It impacts the mind

Health and education comes under economics of social sector. Both are very important from the point of view of economic development and are labelled in economics as merit goods. Such goods are commodities that government provides cheaply or freely for the reason that government wishes to stimulate their consumption. When Public health is debated it is understood as the art of making healthy life and preventing disease. Moreover, it increases life expectancy and levels of nutrition by way of orderly efforts. In addition, it improves the informed choices of society, communities and individuals. According to World Health Organization, one of the most underestimated public health aspect is mental health. Globally, around one billion people have a mental disorder, with three million dying annually as a result of alcohol addiction and after every 40 seconds one person committing suicide.

Mental health is beyond what is seen and observed. It is not just instability and disorder of mind. It is a state of mental well-being enabling people to reduce different levels of stress of life. It helps in realizing their capabilities. It is wisely said that life is not merely living but living well and therefore, mental health aids us to learn and work well, and makes a positive impact on their community. There is no denying the fact that mental health improves the level of economic development of a nation. Health and nutrition increase productivity or efficiency levels. Mental health is an integral part of health and well-being that are in turn integral components of economic development underpinning our individual and collective choices, capabilities, and freedom to make decisions. According to Amartya Sen, economic development concerns improvement in the freedoms and capabilities of the disadvantaged, thereby improving the overall quality of life and things people have reason to value. Economic development encompasses relationship that makes life healthy and happy in every manner.

Developing healthy relationships are very important for development of healthy life and soft skills. There is a bi-way causal relationship between life skills and economic development. Both affect each other in a positive way. The better our life sills are, better are our growth and development prospects and vice versa. With healthy relationships we can build a better social capital and human capital. When we are mentally healthy we can build better relationships and heal and shape the world we live in. There are people dying and if we care enough for the living then we must make a better place to live in and for that matter we must develop a better linkage between mental health and economic development. Right is a claim of a person recognized by society and implemented by the state. There are many fundamental rights given in our constitution among whom some are basic human rights and mental health is no exception. It is not only crucial to overall personal development of an individual but socio-economic development of an economy as well. We can’t expect mentally unsound people to be grateful because it is only mentally healthy and happy people who qualify this characteristic.

Our religion teaches us to be grateful.

Complaining is the root cause of depression and mental disorders. When we keep on complaining, the graph of our happiness keeps on declining but if we stop complaining it will increase instead of falling. The moment we are grateful, empathetic, and dynamic we tend to be more happy and healthy and accordingly we make others healthy, lively, and happy too. All types of syndrome in general and mental syndrome in particular are the root cause of unhappiness and ungratefulness thereby refraining us from making a better version of ourselves. Unhealthy people at least have the fantasy that monetary resources will make their quality of life better. It is a fact that it is rich people who are mostly mentally disturbed and unhappy for the reason that they mostly have bad habits and poor quality of life although having better standard of living. It is therefore very important to organize mental health awareness programs at different levels so that people will realize the importance of mental health and its impact on economic development. It is seen that generally our youth have mental issues due to high educated unemployment. We must adopt different ways to improve our mental wellbeing. We must embrace learning by doing approach in our ordinary business of life so that our creativity will be enhanced. Moreover, we must get close to nature and for that matter we must adopt organic and eco-friendly practices in our life. It will have a dual effect: On one hand, it will improve our lifestyle and on another hand, it will reduce our stress level.

 Dr. Binish Qadri, Former, Assistant Professor, Cluster University , Srinagar.