Mental Health – Not an Incidental Issue

We still have a long way to go in truly understanding mental health as an essential dimension of personality development and as an integral part of life itself. Mental health is not confined to individual well-being; it has a direct and profound in

fluence on the collective health of society — what is academically referred to as public health. It is a primary necessity for a meaningful and fulfilling life, far beyond the superficial materialistic needs that dominate our times.

As a society, however, we continue to treat this vital aspect of human existence as something incidental, despite its deep interconnections with physical, social, and spiritual development. Whenever a distressing event occurs, we temporarily emphasize the importance of caring for the mind, implement some hurried, scattered measures across institutions to show that “something is being done,” and then quickly move on. It often feels as though we are living in isolation — fragmented into airtight compartments. Our thinking has become narrow and incident-driven; in our haste to provide immediate solutions, we end up deceiving ourselves into believing that such reactive actions reflect wisdom or progress.

It is time we deeply recognize that mental health is not an incidental issue; it is a central determinant of overall human functioning. It constitutes a critical and complex component of holistic development. Mental health is intricately woven into every aspect of life — and, in turn, those many aspects influence the mental health of individuals and societies. This reciprocal relationship defines the quality of our overall well-being.

When we look back at our cultural roots, we find ancient Indian scriptures that discuss the foundational aspects of mental balance and emotional health. Unfortunately, much of that wisdom was obscured and misinterpreted after the 19th century. Reclaiming that understanding requires us to first acknowledge its value and then identify the gaps within our modern systems and lifestyles that prevent its integration into contemporary living.

Too often, our responses to mental health crises are reactionary and superficial. For instance, when a school-going child tragically dies by suicide, investigations tend to focus narrowly on assigning blame to parents or school authorities. In response, higher bodies propose quick-fix measures — such as installing CCTV cameras — aimed at preventing repetition of that exact scenario. However, these measures fail to address the deeper, more complex causes — such as lack of emotional support, inadequate coping skills, or the absence of safe spaces to express distress without judgment. The core issue remains neglected while attention stays confined to visible control mechanisms.

A similar pattern is evident at individual and family levels. People suffering from mental illnesses often resort to medication only after trying multiple other remedies. When symptoms subside, they frequently discontinue treatment, only to resume it during the next crisis. This cycle of episodic attention reveals how we continue to perceive mental health as situational — a temporary disturbance to be managed, rather than a continuous aspect of life requiring sustained care.

One of the most damaging effects of such incidental responses is that they cloud our inner voice — the authentic guide that leads us toward genuine well-being. They provide temporary relief by creating an illusion of control, but in reality, they disrupt deeper healing. Worse still, these superficial interventions often interact negatively with other social and personal factors, undermining earlier efforts made toward recovery and balance.

True and sustainable results may not always appear immediately visible. Long-term, difficult measures often seem unproductive at first glance, yet they are essential for genuine transformation. The costs of such choices — whether emotional, social, or material — may feel burdensome, but they are necessary investments in lasting health. To bear those costs, we must cultivate a sense of responsibility and commitment at every level — individual, community, and institutional — fulfilling our duties consciously and consistently for the sake of holistic mental health.

Awareness may arise incidentally, but the actions that follow must not. We may begin our journey with a triggering event, but the outcomes should stem from deliberate, continuous efforts. As a society, we still lag in treating mental health as a foundational component of development. While immediate responses to crises are important, our focus must extend beyond them toward sustained, long-term engagement.

Whether as individuals or as part of a collective, if we aspire to preserve and strengthen our mental health, we must approach it as a complex jigsaw puzzle—one that may become disordered multiple times before being completed. This process requires awareness, deep insight into life’s complexities, the courage to pause and reflect before rushing to superficial fixes, the patience to take small but steady steps, and unshakeable faith in the human mind’s capacity to heal and choose the right path.

Moving from awareness to action, what can we do on this World Mental Health Day, 2025? Each of us — individually or as a group — can begin by adopting one or two small, intentional steps to modify unhealthy routines or habits. We must commit to following these consistently until the next World Mental Health Day, on October 10th, 2026. Over time, such practices will lay the foundation for mental well-being. Each year, as our insight and understanding grow, we can add new layers to this practice — both individually and collectively. Gradually, these sustained efforts will reduce the need for reactive, large-scale interventions, transforming mental health from a peripheral concern into an active, living part of our cultural consciousness.

Meenakshi (Psychotherapist)