Mental Health impacts ~ 10% of world population
Mental illness can be a silent killer. WHO estimates ~ 280M people suffer from depression globally. NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health) estimates 21M US adults had one major depression episode a year – that is ~ 8% of the adult population. Depression is just one of the mental health issues – Anxiety, Bipolar, Eating Disorders, ADHD, OCD, Panic, Schizophrenia, PTSD and others cumulatively impact 11% of the world population.
Youngsters have a higher rate of depression
Depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders are among the leading causes of illness among adolescents. This trend is accelerating. A WHO report highlighted that globally one in seven 10-19 year-olds experiences a mental disorder, accounting for 13% of the global burden of disease in this age group. Antidepressant prescriptions for young adults and teens in the US increased by nearly 64% from 2020 onward.
Depression in teens is a serious medical illness. It's more than just a feeling of being sad or "blue" for a few days. It is an intense feeling of sadness, hopelessness, and anger or frustration that lasts much longer. These feelings make it hard for you to function normally and do your usual activities. You may also have trouble focusing and have no motivation or energy. Depression can make you feel like it is hard to enjoy life or even get through the day. In its acute form it leads to suicide.
What impacts Mental Health
Bio-physical – Genetics, family history, prenatal complications, brain injury, lack of sleep, chronic medical condition, poor nutrition, usage of drugs / alcohol etc.
Psychological – Stress, low self-esteem, poor coping skills, poor communication skills, emotional Immaturity, traumatic life experience, gender identity crisis etc.
Social-environmental – Loneliness, family conflict, discouraging environment, financial crisis, unemployment, family structure, parental style, insecurity etc.
In today’s world, most health problems are caused by a faulty lifestyle and emotional complexities.
The changing times and the fear of the youngsters is best depicted in the popular song “Brutal” by Olivia Rodrigo. It spells out the fear and insecurities of the youth by defining how brutal the world is out there. No wonder the song became an instant hit amongst the teenagers.
Healthy Mind
Neuroscientists explain the reason and cause of mental illness through imbalances of 3 neurotransmitters – serotonin, glutamate & dopamine. The Mind impacts our immunity, cardiovascular system, the gut & digestion and also our hormones.
Charak Samhita an ancient Vedic medicinal text highlights the role of the mind in the happiness or sadness of human life. The following verse from the text brings it out clearly.
The person who has become impatient, who is in a dilemma, and whose organs have lost the energy, such a person becomes mentally weak and it is difficult to cure him.
Yoga Identifies the root cause for mental illness
In Yoga, mind or intellect can be represented as ‘Chitta’. The ‘Vrittis’ (disturbance of mind) is understood as the root cause of all mental pains. Vrittis are created in mind by ‘Kleshas’ (afflictions). These five Kleshas are responsible for all diseases.
Avidya (ignorance)
Asmita (egoism)
Raga (attachment to material world)
Dvesa (aversion or hatred)
Abinivesah (fear of death and attachment for life)
Avidya is seen as the root cause of all Kleshas and problems. Avidya disturbs the equilibrium of all cognitive, emotional, and behavioural pillars of a personality. This is called as Chitta-Vritti (modification of mind).
Yoga is a structured science to settle the mind and calm the Vrittis. It is comprehensive and if followed patiently step by step is the perfect solution for most of the mental illness – especially depression faced by humanity.
A healthy yogic lifestyle with proper ‘Achar’ (right conduct), ‘Vihar’ (recreation), ‘Vichar’ (positive thoughts), and ‘Ahara’ (right food) can solve most of our day to day problems.
Yoga is also found effective in increasing the markers of brain plasticity such as brain-derived neurotropic factors. Chanting Mantras and Shlokas has also brought evidence-based favourable changes in the mind and body at functional and structural levels.
The Bhagavad Gita explains the means of calming and controlling the mind in detail. The approach to Sthithprajya (Equanimity / Stability of Mind) has been discussed extensively in the Gita.
Yogic methods that promote mental health
Yoga Nidra: This practice induces alpha waves in the brain, promoting relaxation and significantly increasing dopamine levels, which can enhance mood and alleviate psychological conditions like anxiety and sleep disorders.
Yogasanas: Specific postures like Sarvangasana, Setubandhasana, and Bhujangasana help maintain mind-body harmony, reduce stress, andimprove brain function.
Pranayama: Techniques such as Anuloma-Viloma and Nadishodhana regulate energy flow, balance the autonomic nervous system, and improve overall mental health by increasing oxygen levels and reducing negative thoughts.
Meditation: Regular meditation reduces activity in the limbic system, thereby decreasing emotional reactivity and stress.
In Conclusion
Physical activity, including yoga asanas, boosts mood by lowering stress hormones, increasing endorphins, and enhancing brain function. Yoga offers unique benefits by raising levels of GABA, a neurotransmitter linked to better mood and decreased anxiety. Studies have shown that yoga, compared to other complementary therapies like massage or music, is particularly effective for depression and anxiety, often providing long-lasting benefits. Incorporating yoga into daily life can thus be a powerful tool for improving mental health and complementing traditional therapies.
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