How not to talk mental health

Depression isn’t just sadness; it’s much more, and television campaigns do not say it all, claim experts

The Dobara Poocho campaign, recently released by Deepika Padukone’s Live Laugh Love foundation that aims to spread awareness about depression, has gotten off on the wrong footing.

Criticism is now making its rounds, pointing out that the videos, while trying to spread awareness about the issue, have oversimplified it, not depicting the entire truth. They simply show people in a sad or withdrawn mood, while depression is not just about being sad.

Psychologist Pulkit Sharma, says that while the idea of spreading awareness through a medium such as videos is very effective, it can also mislead the masses and keep them in the dark if done incorrectly. “When someone is making an ‘awareness’ video, just the information, and not the creative aspect, should be in the forefront. The kind of sadness in someone who may be having a bad day, and someone with depression is very different,” he says and adds, “It is not difficult to give the audience the right message without oversimplifying it. Depression has symptoms such as lack of interest, low self-confidence, sleepless nights or over sleeping, among others, which can be depicted.

“For example, they could show someone who has received news that he has been promoted, and display total indifference towards it.”

Kashish Chhabria, another psychologist says, “Depression is not accepted very well in our country,. We are still developing an understanding towards the illness. People, however, do not take the word ‘depression’ seriously, and there are times when it is used loosely. The word is not interchangeable, and it is necessary to spread that awareness. A person may be temporarily sad, but depression is a prolonged condition and has signs and symptoms of its own.

While making a video to spread awareness is a good thing, it is also necessary to not misguide people. Temporary mood swings and sadness shouldn't be termed as depression. The videos should also mention that it is necessary to get in touch with a certified medical practitioner or a therapist.”

Director Shirish Kunder, who has dabbled with mental illness in his short psychological-thriller, Kriti, says that it’s not necessary to compromise on creativity to be factual. “Nobody will watch a movie that is boring or preachy, so it is important to make it entertaining. That’s the idea of bed-time stories, too. If a mother says to her son, ‘don’t lie,’ he may not listen, but by listening to the story about the boy who cried wolf, he will understand. Also, in-depth information is important. I have read a lot of literature regarding psychology, so I knew how to take it forward while making Kriti,” he says.

Sociologist Avatthi Ramayya, says, “In rural India, mental illnesses is not considered an illness at all, and are often not treated in the right way. They often resort to rituals and take a person to a temple, or healing practitioners, rather than treat them in a hospital. And by the time they reach the hospital, it is often too late. The dominant understanding about the actual form of illness, even in urban areas, isn’t correct, and terms are often loosely used. The correct way to approach the topic through the media, would be by creating awareness, and advising them to visit a therapist rather than giving half-baked information.”

—With inputs from Aarti Bhanushali