India has may aspects that are unique to its culture. However, one aspect that intrigues me is mental health. Over the years, research and awareness has been spread about this ongoing issue. I am curious to uncover and learn how Eastern countries deal with something like mental health. According to the World Health Organization (2023), despite constant progression over this matter, several countries still face discrimination, human rights violation, and stigma. 

 

So, what does mental health consist of? The way we think, feel and act are all part of mental health. Whether it is to deal with a day-to-day task or stress related event, mental health contributes to how we handle situations. Moreover, wellbeing, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation all assume overall mental health as well. 

 

When it comes to mental health in the West, it is seen as the core of a person’s wellbeing. According to stereotypical views, mental health is neglected in the East. However, there’s an immense contrast in the way mental health is viewed in the East versus the West. According to Ludden (2017), Westerners take on an analytical view of the world while the Easterners take on a holistic view. This worldwide dissimilarity can explain how two different people from two different cultures would deal with different scenarios. Westerners seem to categorize every action, thought and feeling. Often, this may cause disconnection from the broader context of the scenario and miss ‘the bigger picture’. As opposed to the East, people will expect for the bad to happen because there is good that will come and balance it out. It is evident that culture assumes a huge role in of our wellbeing development. A particular view within our culture is ingrained as we grow up that turn into psychological patterns. These patterns turn into how we carry out our way of life.

 

Part of someone’s culture includes beliefs, values, and practices. This influences our perception of the world, our behavior, and interactions. Coping and understanding mental illness requires us to refer to what we grew up with and way of thinking. While in the West it is more acceptable to openly express emotions, in some Eastern cultures it is normal to have emotional constraint. According to “The relationship between culture and mental health”, “In Western cultures, anxiety is often experienced as fear or dread. In contrast, in Eastern cultures, it may be more likely to be experienced as physical symptoms such as heart palpitations or dizziness.” While Westerners have defined anxiety with mental symptoms, Easterners have turned to physical symptoms. 

 

 I am eager to explore a distinct view towards mental health and learn the attitude towards it. In my research study, I hope to find out more information on mental health and its effect on younger generations. In addition to discovering the aspects of mental health, I would like to dig deeper into this subject and analyze development. How are kids raised when it comes to mental health? I would like to conduct research on children of ages 6-16. Since children among this age are still under care of their parents, it is essential to begin with their main source of care.  In today's world, there are various mental health disorders people deal with. Depression being the leading mental health disability, can show how severe this matter may be. There are various factors that may contribute to a stigma towards mental health, and I would like to find out why. In uncovering the stigma within help-seeking, will it uncover additional circumstances? Are there any extra circumstances in a developing country different from here in the U.S.?​ As the second largest populated country in the world, it is fascinating to find out how an Eastern country such as India, handles mental health and its effect on individuals. I believe that the culture's conservative view assumes that mental health is not a major issue or priority. However, mental health is a crucial part of a human's wellbeing, especially throughout development. It seems as if the current generation of adults are still under the impression of their ancestors and unfazed with mental health and including it as part of someone's wellbeing. 

 

 

Sources:

“About Mental Health.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25 Apr. 2023, www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm. 

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“East-West Cultural Differences in Depression.” Psychology Today, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/talking-apes/201711/east-west-cultural-differences-in-depression. Accessed 16 June 2023. 

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Srivastava, K., Chatterjee, K., & Bhat, P. S. (2016). Mental health awareness: The Indian scenario. Industrial psychiatry journal, 25(2), 131–134. https://doi.org/10.4103/ipj.ipj_45_17

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Therapy Brands. “The Relationship between Culture and Mental Health.” Therapy Brands, 26 Oct. 2022, therapybrands.com/blog/the-role-of-culture-in-mental-health/.