Article published: http://www.merinews.com/article/attitudes-to-professional-counselling-in-india-awareness-issues-brighter-side-and-a-change-for-the-better/15896755.shtml
With
an increase in a spate of suicides in modern Indian, mental-health concerns are
much talked and worried about. Loneliness and exhaustion, two major by-products
from heavily competitive and busy lifestyles are to an alarming extent
mirroring an emotional unrest within the current Indian society.
Matters that overwhelm the present generation
are upping in number and witnessed in the form of multiple breakdowns behind
closed doors that often go unreported. In this internet-era where “connection”
is a gripping-point of masses fixated to social networking-sites, there is an
emotional disconnect to its flip-side that is reaching newer heights of
adversity.
Inspite
of an advanced technology for an increased connectivity, there are countless
number of people who find themselves lost when in need of support for their
personal problems and do not know whom to talk to? In this given scenario,
where rising need for psychological assistance and mental-health experts is
felt, Indians in India in contrast, are still less aware of counselling
practices in the country and apprehensive to seek professional help.
Findings from my
cross-cultural study titled 'British and Indian Attitudes towards counselling' comparing
British and Indian attitudes towards counselling, published in 'Counselling
Psychology Quarterly', UK, report that there is lower awareness amongst Indians
in India regarding counselling, even compared to those of Indians living abroad
in Britain. And, also that those living abroad had a greater awareness about available
counselling services compared to Indians in India.
At
a time when there is an increasing mental pressure amongst citizens of all
classes, it becomes important to bring to light the reasons why people within
the country refrain from reaching out for a much needed and perhaps a 'secretly
desired' professional assistance for their everyday emotional upheavals. It
becomes important to understand, what causes this difference between the
individuals with a common nationality to differ in their levels of awareness
and attitudes towards an important service concerning mental health well-being?
The
prevalent condition of Indians in India can be attributed to the fact that
counselling in India is still far from being popularly recognised or governed
by recognised body writes Arulmani, of The Promise Foundation, Bangalore,
in his paper 'Counselling Psychology in India: At the Confluence of Two
Traditions '. Additionally, most people in India view counselling as
restricted to mental illness, while it can factually cater to a range
individual aspects relating to development of personality, improving
relationships, skills, increasing work performances and more.
According
to widely accepted definition of counselling given by British Association of
Counselling Psychology (BACP), counselling is a professional time-honoured
service that helps “people explore and solve their own problems, increases
self-esteem and helps people develop skills to resolve their past and present
problems” using their resources and keeping in mind their subjective
environments. In a given scenario where this knowledge is absent or there is
partial awareness on this, very many individuals approach counselling for some
entirely wrong reasons like “advice” and sometimes even seeking paranormal guidance.
Most people in India are misguided about the role of counsellors. Largely,
people thought of them as mind-readers, face-readers, handwriting analysts,
body-language experts, personality analysts, future predictors and
solution-providers.
These
beliefs are contrary to the facts, but an authentic documentation from
professionals who experience this reality in day-to-day practice can be an
effective research-based tool for the spread of awareness about counselling in
the right direction and for bursting myths about it. As a result, client
expectations and legitimate counselling practices will be in sync for more
benefiting therapeutic results and reducing disappointments from misguided
information.
Interestingly
still, findings from my research paper confirm that Indians with previous
experiences of counselling (both in India and abroad) have a more positive
attitude towards counselling practice. One can understand that Indians in India
who were counselling clients were satisfied with counselling services received
in the country and that they benefit from it as much as Indians using
counselling services while living abroad in Britain. This can be viewed as the
brighter side, and encouraging news for both counselling professionals and
those interested in seeking their services.
The
idea is that well informed citizens about this will be at an advantage for
wiser decision-making and for using psychological support, which is better
accessible today than ever before. It will also help a large number of people
avail to financially viable means of counselling such as
telephonic-counselling, psychological 'apps' on smart-phones and also services
from non-profitable agencies.
A
trend for physical fitness caught the interest of millions of people in the
country and has gained widespread acceptance with visibly flourishing gyms.
Mental-health too is hinting at the requirement of an increased attention to emotional
well-being for better adaptability to fast changing lives. It is not only about
mental sickness anymore, but about increased fitness and efficiency to be
upbeat with life challenges. For this, there are several therapies offered by
professionals focusing on individuals, families, groups, communities and
organisations for skill development and empowerment.
Using
this kind of counselling support is likely to bring a change for the better in
terms of mental fitness. Also, it is important to remember, in the words of
famous Arnold Schwarzenegger, “The mind always fails first, not the body. The
secret is to make your mind work for you, not against you”.
With
an increase in a spate of suicides in modern Indian, mental-health
concerns are much talked and worried about. Loneliness and exhaustion,
two by-products from heavily competitive and busy lifestyles are to an
alarming extent mirroring an emotional unrest within the current Indian
society.
Matters that
overwhelm the present generation are upping in number and witnessed
in the form of multiple breakdowns behind closed doors that often go
unreported. In this Internet-era where "connection" is a
gripping-point of masses fixated to social networking-sites, there is
an emotional disconnect to its flip-side that is reaching newer
heights of adversity.
- See more at:
http://www.merinews.com/article/attitudes-to-professional-counselling-in-india-awareness-issues-brighter-side-and-a-change-for-the-better/15896755.shtml#sthash.epBgE8bd.dpuf
With
an increase in a spate of suicides in modern Indian, mental-health
concerns are much talked and worried about. Loneliness and exhaustion,
two by-products from heavily competitive and busy lifestyles are to an
alarming extent mirroring an emotional unrest within the current Indian
society.
Matters that
overwhelm the present generation are upping in number and witnessed
in the form of multiple breakdowns behind closed doors that often go
unreported. In this Internet-era where "connection" is a
gripping-point of masses fixated to social networking-sites, there is
an emotional disconnect to its flip-side that is reaching newer
heights of adversity.
- See more at:
http://www.merinews.com/article/attitudes-to-professional-counselling-in-india-awareness-issues-brighter-side-and-a-change-for-the-better/15896755.shtml#sthash.epBgE8bd.dpuf
With
an increase in a spate of suicides in modern Indian, mental-health
concerns are much talked and worried about. Loneliness and exhaustion,
two by-products from heavily competitive and busy lifestyles are to an
alarming extent mirroring an emotional unrest within the current Indian
society.
Matters that
overwhelm the present generation are upping in number and witnessed
in the form of multiple breakdowns behind closed doors that often go
unreported. In this Internet-era where "connection" is a
gripping-point of masses fixated to social networking-sites, there is
an emotional disconnect to its flip-side that is reaching newer
heights of adversity.
- See more at:
http://www.merinews.com/article/attitudes-to-professional-counselling-in-india-awareness-issues-brighter-side-and-a-change-for-the-better/15896755.shtml#sthash.epBgE8bd.dpuf