JANUARY 2025 NEWSLETTER
SOURISH CHOUDHURY | Published on 2/4/2025
MIND - FRIEND OR ENEMY ?
- RTN Sourish Choudhury, Mindfulness Life Coach
The mind can be both a friend and an enemy, depending on how we use it. When it's aligned with our values, goals, and inner peace, it’s a powerful ally. It helps us think critically, solve problems, and create meaningful experiences. But when it gets caught in negative patterns—like overthinking, self-doubt, or anxiety—it can become a hindrance, almost like an enemy. The key might lie in learning to navigate the mind, understanding its tendencies, and finding ways to stay grounded in the present.
Mind as a Friend:
1. Problem-Solving and Creativity: Our mind helps us think through challenges, find solutions, and explore creative avenues. It enables us to understand abstract concepts, make decisions, and adapt to changes. When our mind is clear and focused, it’s a powerful tool for personal growth and success.
2. Self-Awareness: A healthy, balanced mind allows us to reflect on our actions and thoughts. This self-awareness can lead to personal improvement, emotional intelligence, and better relationships. It helps us understand our values, desires, and motivations.
3. Mindfulness and Presence: When we learn to quiet the mind through practices like mindfulness, it can become a peaceful ally. It helps us experience life fully in the present, reducing stress and increasing happiness.
Mind as an Enemy:
1. Overthinking: Sometimes, the mind gets stuck in cycles of overthinking, ruminating on past mistakes or worrying excessively about the future. This can lead to stress, anxiety, and indecision. It creates mental noise that drowns out clarity.
2. Negative Self-Talk: The mind can often be a harsh critic. When we allow negative thoughts to take over—such as feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, or fear—it can create a toxic internal environment that undermines our confidence and well-being.
3. Mental Habits: Certain mental patterns, like perfectionism or pessimism, can become ingrained and limit our potential. These habits often operate automatically and without our conscious awareness, making them feel like they are "out of our control."
Balancing the Two:
• Mind Training: Practices like mindfulness, meditation, journaling, and cognitive behavioral techniques can help us become more aware of how our minds work. By recognizing when the mind is acting as an enemy (e.g., when it's spiraling into negativity), we can learn to redirect it in a more constructive direction.
• Self-Compassion: Being kind to ourselves when the mind is acting out can transform its role from an enemy to a friend. When we accept our flaws and imperfections without judgment, the mind becomes more balanced and supportive.
• Healthy Boundaries: Learning to create space for mental rest (like disconnecting from work or constant stimulation) can help quiet the mind and bring it back to a peaceful state.
In short, the mind’s role depends on how we manage it. It can either empower us or hold us back, but with awareness and intentionality, we can guide it toward being a more helpful ally.
SMART MENTAL HEALTH (GG -2569039)
- Ochirbat Batbold, RID 3450
This project seeks to tackle Mongolia's escalating mental health crisis by offering telemedicine services to rural areas, with a focus on Zavkhan Province. With an alarming average of 3,045 suicides annually and a shortage of mental health professionals in remote regions, access to care remains a significant challenge. To address this, we will distribute telemedicine devices across all 24 subdivisions (Sums) in Zavkhan Province. These devices will provide telemedicine platforms, which include both medical equipment and software, enabling local doctors to connect patients with mental health specialists at provincial hospitals. This will ensure that critical mental health services are accessible to those in need.
The project will directly benefit the 72,104 residents of Zavkhan’s rural subdivisions, who face considerable barriers to mental health care due to the province’s sparse population density (0.87/km2). By supplying portable telemedicine devices, patients can receive care from the comfort of their homes, saving both time and money, while also improving their overall well-being. Key beneficiaries include rural patients who will gain access to specialized mental health care, healthcare providers who will collaborate with specialists to offer more comprehensive services, provincial hospitals that will extend their reach without requiring patients to travel long distances, and local communities that will experience improved mental health outcomes and overall well-being.
COPING WITH LOSS AND GRIEF
- Larry Kubiak, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist PY4011, Past District Governor 6940
The experience of loss is an inevitable part of life. Children experience the loss of being the center of family life and attention. As adults we lose youthful idealism and independence. In our older years we may experience a loss of income, stature or health. At any age the loss of those closest to us through separation, divorce or death can be extremely painful and depressing especially if it is unexpected. Loss usually engenders a grief reaction which is normal and a necessary part of the healing process. Grief is the total process of reacting and responding to the losses in our lives. It is a psychological process that can affect our entire life. It allows us to work through all of our feelings, thoughts and decisions that a loss can generate. Its successful resolution allows the re-establishment of life.
Elizabeth Kubler Ross described a five stage process in coming to terms with one’s own death and dealing with other losses. This involves 1) shock or denial, 2) anger, 3) bargaining, 4) reactive depression and preparatory grief and 5) acceptance. No two people experience grief in exactly the same way either in duration or intensity. Some may become stuck at certain stages which slows the ultimate healing and the ability to go on living life to the fullest.
What can we do to successfully resolve grief? The following are some suggestions:
1. Honestly accept the pain of your loss and don’t be afraid to express it. Crying is a good release for tension.
2. Be willing to talk out your thoughts, feelings and memories with caring persons.
3. Realize that there is no timetable for your grief.
4. Become involved in activities that have meaning for you when you feel comfortable.
5. Be grateful for your life and for that of the one you mourn.
Have faith in God’s love and plan for you. It is equally important to avoid certain things in order to cope with loss:
1. Don’t condemn yourself.
2. Don’t feel sorry for yourself.
3. Don’t run away through geographical moves are cutting yourself off from others since you truly cannot run away from yourself and your feelings.
4. Don’t withdraw as this can become a fertile ground for unreasonable resentments and irrational
thinking.
5. Don’t pay too much attention to what others say as they can be extremely crass and unfeeling at times often without meaning to.
6. Don’t cross bridges until you come to them. Take life one day at a time.
7. Don’t underestimate yourself. You do have more strength than you realize and will survive.
As the friend of someone in grief there are several strategies that you can use to help them:
1. Remember that grief is normal and fits no timetable so be patient and encouraging.
2. Try to be with the person especially on “anniversaries”.
3. Allow the friend to experience the pain fully without judgment or minimizing.
4. Listen to their story over and over as this is essential to the resolution of grief.
5. Encourage the friend to form new relationships and get involved in life again.
6. Reassure the friend that guilt is natural and takes time to resolve. Let them know that while
imperfect they filled the role well.
7. Perform practical and tangible acts of kindness.
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN YOUTH OF INDIA: MYTHS VERSUS REALITY
- Dr. Sanchita Pakrashi , Consultant Clinical Psychologist
One-fourth of the total world population is the youth and this world is home to 1.8 billion young people of age ranging between 10-24 years. India has the world's highest number of this age group with 356 million people. The young age has a major impact on the whole life of an individual as well as on the society as it is the formative and most important years of life. Health, especially one’s mental health is the most significant area in this aspect.
Health is incomplete without mental health. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as a complete physical, mental, and social well-being. A sound mental health, as conceptualized by WHO, is a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his/her self-potentials, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make contributions to the society.
Recently concluded National Mental Health Survey of India estimates the current prevalence of mental disorders in the age group of 18-29 yr at 7.39 per cent (excluding tobacco use disorder) and lifetime prevalence at 9.54 per cent. The young people also suffer a high rate of self-harm, with suicide being a leading cause of death. Yet he social stigma and prejudice associated with mental health problems particularly affects help-seeking among young people. Several Researches reveal that one-third of young people display poor knowledge of mental health problems and show negative attitudes towards people with mental health problems and also, 1 in 5 has actual/intended stigmatizing behavior.
Working as a mental health professional for the last twenty-seven years I was able to discover strange revelations of contradictory myths regarding mental health issues in Indian society. Most of the time people consider mental health problems as weaknesses that can be overcome easily if the affected person really wants to. Hence, Depression, Panic Attacks, Obsessive Compulsive Disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD), Phobias, Eating Disorders etc. are seen as a weak state of mind and a kind of disability that the patient is not willing enough to overcome. The family members, friends and associates of the patient who are concerned, strangely believe that the patient is not really ready to come out of this state by self help as they have tried to talk and make him /her understand to leave these practices or habits. Some relatives of a segment of young people having mental health issues, even consider these issues could be overcome once the person gets married! Hence, there are incidents of marrying the person without going through the proper treatment intervention. Above all, sometimes the patient himself considers that treatment in the form of medication or counselling is not required and the problem is a mere mental block that can be overcome only with positive thinking, meditation and motivational speeches following youtube channels. Time flies and the disease roots within and patients come to us when the situation is unbearable for them and complicated for us, the professionals.
Oppositely, another myth is, mental health issues are so severe and permanent that once you are mentally ill, you are never really cured. I observed the fact that if someone had gone under treatment with medication and psychotherapy for his/her illness, suddenly the issue becomes so serious that the individual is forever labelled with insanity. The patient and relatives are always putting much effort to hide from society while visiting any mental health professionals. In the Indian marriage market, if any of the prospective candidates honestly speak about his/ her history of mental health issues and treatment, the candidate gets immediately rejected on the ground that he / she is a troubled person who is vulnerable to become insane again. Society considers that his /her mental health issues were once so grave that the person ‘had to take treatment’! Not only that, once the person having such issues could give birth to babies with mental derailment! That is why numerous young people having a history of mental health issues hide these things while getting married. This becomes a stigma to take professional help and get a chance to be cured.
Again, there is a popular belief that if you are not mentally ill, your mental health is perfect. Being ill and being healthy may be two extreme ends in a poles apart-continuum but not having any mental disorder does not equate with having good mental health. Let me clarify here, the fact that you are a very efficient worker in your job, performing excellently and achieving success, may not be proof of your good mental health. You can still suffer with inferiority, tensions or even performance anxieties. Also, if you are a social person with an active and lucid presence in both your online or offline social fields, still you may lack good mental health. You can suffer with loneliness, be desperate for a relationship, feel depressed and frustrated and many more. The problem is, we as a social being learn to wear masks and it becomes so embedded in our personality that we lack understanding of self and start taking the mask as our true selves ignoring the signs of our mental health issues. Mental Health is a dynamic concept. No one can remain in perfect or sound mental health for his /her whole life. It changes. Even it changes each day. One day your mind might feel out of shape but again you can pull yourself up again. But if certain small issues are making you less every day, it should be taken care of.
There are certain qualities that are usually considered as signs of good mental health. The person having a good mental health consistently has touch with reality, can cope with normal stressors of life, is productive & can contribute to the society, knows self-strengths & limitations, can control unnecessary impulses, is open to learning, reasoning, interacting with flexibilities in thoughts & actions and is peaceful within self.
Behind all the myths of mental illness, there is a serious lack of awareness in the community. But the interesting fact is that the mentioned characteristics can be attained with awareness, preservation, promotion of mental health as well as the treatment of mental illness in the community.
THE LINK BETWEEN POOR MENTAL HEALTH AND IPV - PART II
- RTN Andrea C. A. Bhagwandeen, Attorney-at-Law
Mental health is intricately linked to the dynamics of IPV. (Anderson 2002) (DeAngelis 2022)
Contradictions are found in the research literature on IPV. Much of the work concentrates upon the problems of severely battered women. However, other research indicates that women can be just as violent as their partners. (Frieze 2005)
Many studies have examined the impact of interpersonal violence on victims' health, demonstrating that any type of violence—whether physical, sexual, or emotional, during childhood or later in life—has negative health consequences and is associated with deviant or problematic behaviors. Most of these studies have studied only females; however, the few studies that include male victims demonstrate the harmful impacts of violence on males as well. (Felitti et al. 1998) (Fergusson, Horwood, and Lynskey 1997) (Silverman, Reinherz, and Giaconia 1996)
The dynamic between poor mental health and violence has recently been the subject of significant debate and examination in the United States of America, following a series of horrific shootings. While the heightened emphasis and media attention on the importance of mental health in the aftermath of such tragedies is a desirable trend, the relationship between mental illness and violence is far too frequently confused. People with mental illnesses are thought to be more prone to violent and aggressive behavior. However, a substantial body of evidence says the contrary. People with mental illnesses are more likely to become victims. (Ghiasi, Azhar, and Singh 2024)
A 2018 systematic literature review of published studies on the mental health of perpetrators of IPV aimed to examine recent or current literature about mental health problems among IPV perpetrators and found that most of the available research suggests that IPV perpetrators have a variety of psychological health problems: anger management problems, anxiety, depression, suicidal behavior, personality disorders, and addiction, namely alcoholism and gambling.An integrative review was conducted to analyze and synthesize existing literature to inform our understanding of the multifaceted dimensions of domestic violence, inclusive of IPV during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Six databases were searched, yielding a final sample of 58 articles. The report provided a detailed assessment of North America, South America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and global research. The research found an alarming increase in domestic violence victimization during the pandemic in most locations, as well as a worsening of previously existing vulnerabilities. Domestic violence, inclusive of IPV increased during the pandemic due to ecological variables such as poor physical and mental health, increased substance use, and financial stress, all of which exacerbated individuals' vulnerability. (Cunha, Gonçalves, and Matos 2025)
Contrary to the ubiquitous notion that IPV is almost always directed towards women, research highlights women as perpetrators (Carmo, Grams, and Magalhães 2011) (Hines and Douglas 2012) (Hine, Wallace, and Bates 2021) (Park, Bang, and Jeon 2021). Indeed, research demonstrating gender equivalence in IPV perpetration has challenged the notion that women endure the biggest burden of IPV in terms of prevalence, intensity of injuries, and negative outcomes(Carbone-López, Kruttschnitt, and Macmillan 2006) (Tjaden and Thoennes 2000) (Archer and Lemeshow 2006) (Chen and Chan 2021).
Furthermore, most violent occurrences between intimate partners tend to be marked by shared hostility (Langhinrichsen-Rohling et al. 2012), occasionally instigated by the female partner (Graham-Kevan and Powney 2019). Despite the diverse spectrum of experts from various geographical locations, the authors present essays from multidisciplinary perspectives on a central issue, men’s victimization and abuse in intimate relationships. In so doing, the writers have resisted the historic and prevalent notion that males are the only perpetrators and women are solely the victims of violence and abuse in intimate contexts. (Wallace and Bates 2024). Despite the trivialization of a relatively old argument, within the family setting, women are just as violent as men (Straus and Gelles 2007), coupled with a global focus on women as the main targets of IPV, this proposition seems to continue to be supported. This is inequitable because IPV is neither trivial nor inconsequential based on the gender of the victim. A balance ought to be struck and recognition given to the importance of placing emphasis upon breaking the stigma surrounding men’s mental health since men are equally victims of IPV as they are sufferers of mental unwellness. (Taylor et al. 2022).
Men and women’s help-seeking behavior may frequently differ. The growing body of gender-specific studies highlights a trend of delayed help-seeking when men become ill. The role of masculine beliefs and the similarities and differences between men of differing backgrounds requires further attention, particularly given the health inequalities that exist among men of differing socio-economic status and ethnicity (Galdas, Cheater, and Marshall 2005). Men in the United States of America (Courtenay 2000), United Kingdom (Kelly et al. 2016) and generally (Weber et al. 2019) are more likely than women to adopt beliefs and behaviors that increase their risks, and are less likely to engage in behaviors promoting health and longevity. Since our science could only be as clear and error-free as our thinking and prejudices would permit, greater precision about whether and when gender relations, sex-linked biology, both, or neither is relevant to mental health is warranted.
Mental Health Challenges Among Men:
Men often face societal expectations to be stoic, strong, and unemotional (Shelley 2007). This cultural narrative can contribute to:
• Underreporting of Mental Health Issues: Many men do not seek help for mental health challenges, fearing stigma or perceived weakness.
• Aggression as an Outlet: For some men, untreated mental health issues manifest as aggression or violence, particularly in intimate relationships.
• Impact on Relationships: Mental health struggles can lead to deteriorating relationship dynamics, increasing the likelihood of IPV.
Statistics Highlight the Global Link Between Mental Health and IPV
In Trinidad and Tobago, IPV has a significant impact on mental health, with survivors experiencing a range of mental health outcomes, including:
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): A prominent mental health outcome of IPV, with an estimated 64% of battered women meeting the diagnostic criteria for PTSD (Mohammed, Thomas, and Randy 2020)
• Fear, anxiety, and substance abuse: Less frequently researched consequences of IPV (Mohammed, Thomas, and Randy 2020)
• Internalization of verbal abuse: Survivors may blame themselves for their situation, and experience fear, anger, and resentment towards themselves
The Government of Trinidad and Tobago has recognised the need to address IPV as a national priority. Some of the initiatives that have been taken include:
• Developing the first National Clinical and Policy Guidelines on IPV and Sexual Violence (Lyons et al. 2024)
• Passing the Sexual Offences Act, which provides greater protection to children and persons with mental illness
However, there are still challenges to addressing IPV, including:
• Lack of access to care
Survivors may have difficulty accessing care due to social attitudes shared by some healthcare workers, or a lack of specific training on caring for IPV survivors
• Absence of clear referral systems
There may be a lack of clear referral systems between health and other services
• Lack of available facilities
There may be a lack of available facilities such as shelters for domestic violence survivors
In the United States of America, in 2023, about 17% of men in the United States received mental health treatment or counselling, compared to 28.5% of women. This is a slight increase from 2019, when 13.4% of men received treatment (Vankar 2024).This reluctance can escalate issues, leading to higher rates of substance abuse and violence.
In India, according to a 2023 systematic review of IPV, relatively few studies have been undertaken in the Indian cultural context to investigate IPV issues. A variety of demographic, cultural, and individual factors contribute to the prevalence of IPV and existing research has shown that IPV has a major influence on both mental and physical health. Additionally, relatively few interventional research on IPV prevention or reduction has been undertaken. The study further revealed that IPV is a significant, widespread, and under-recognised issue in India. It concluded that there is an urgent need for further research in the Indian cultural setting and the development of indigenous intervention studies.(Shikhila and Kanth 2023)
Uganda's draft mental health policy includes decentralisation and integration of mental health services into Primary Health Care. The existing mental health legislation, however, is outdated. Of Uganda's 9.8% total gross domestic product budget for healthcare, only one percent is allocated towards mental healthcare (Kigozi et al. 2010). Its most pressing challenge may be its insufficient human capital and financial resources to provide high-quality care and services. Western psychiatric procedures, treatment, and perceptions of people with mental illnesses have long been linked to cultural ideas about witchcraft and spirit possession. This promotes punitive actions, stigma, and societal rejection. Uganda's laws and human rights policies have also largely failed to protect the rights and community inclusion of people with psychosocial disability. Moving forward, an increasing number of human rights defenders have moved to oppose policies that perpetuate exclusion and coercion (Kitafuna 2022). There is a 43.7% prevalence of any form of IPV victimization (physical, sexual, or psychological), with no statistically significant difference between men and women. The following characteristics were strongly related with IPV victimization: sub-county (representing ecological conditions), poverty, alcohol usage, and physical and sexual war torture experiences. The mental health issues associated with IPV victimization included probable alcohol abuse, attempted suicide, and probable severe depressive disorder. In post-conflict eastern Uganda, war torture was a risk factor for IPV victimization in both genders, and IPV victimization was connected with mental health problems. (Kinyanda et al. 2016)
Conclusion
The relationship between mental health and intimate partner violence is complex and multifaceted. Understanding this connection is crucial for developing effective interventions and support systems. By unbiasedly addressing mental health needs and fostering a culture of openness, we can reduce both stigmas and instances of IPV and promote healthier relationships.
Individually and collectively, we play an essential role in this endeavor by providing resources, support, and advocacy to communities worldwide. As we continue to confront the challenges of mental health and violence, collaborative efforts like these are vital in creating a safer and more equitable society for all. Across the globe, persons with lived experience of mental illness, including survivors and those still undergoing treatment or care, have been historically disregarded and mistreated. Through education, awareness, and community engagement, we can break the cycle of violence and support the mental health of men, ultimately fostering healthier relationships and communities. Let us continue to unite, advance world understanding and create hope in the world.