Imperative That Womens Mental Health Is Also Accounted For And Addressed: Anna Chandy, Chairperson, The Live Love Laugh Foundation

"In today’s society, with women engaging in multiple tasks and roles, it is imperative that their mental health is also accounted for and addressed, for society to function effectively and with balance. In view of this, it is essential that women prioritise their tasks and needs," stresses Anna Chandy, Chairperson, The Live Love Laugh Foundation.

With the mounting pressures that women deal with in all facets of life, they need to create space within, to flourish. Prioritizing and regrouping from time to time at all levels: Mind, Body, and soul.

If one resolves to keep a steady pace then the reset button will not be needed and remain forever untouched. Hopefully, it will become redundant as a reflex whenever water goes over ones head.

Unfortunately, when most women do set out to focus on themselves, they tend to only focus on the weight aspect and not on nurturing their mind and soul.

The mind and body are closely related and rely on each other. No matter how hard you work out, if your mind is in flux then at some point your body will stop responding to the exercise and disease will set in.

Nourishment of the mind and soul is imperative

Harika Sachdev, life Coach and Partner at AbhiBindu believes that, “When the soul is nourished, we are in harmony; balanced and grounded. This allows for the love to flow, to grow and empower oneself and all those around."

A grounding barefoot walk in the park, a few seconds of breathing consciously, a quiet meditation, a  healthy nourishing meal eaten mindfully, a daily gratitude practice, an act of joyous compassion, a weekend getaway amidst nature, moments celebrating life lived in the here and now are all simple ways of investing in nourishing your soul and healing your weary body, appreciating the gift of life. Investing in yourself, your personal growth helps you grow others. As women we forget that our cups need to be brimming over for us to be able to share more,” emphasizes Harika.

Mental health issues are becoming increasingly prevalent in women. The WHO indicates that depression affects one out of every five women today.

Dr. Upasana Chadha, Psychologist from the Lybrate Platform is of the opinion that, “Women in the urban areas, especially, face a dual burden of responsibilities – that of managing the home and work front. This combined with the biological changes that women go through can wreak havoc on their mental health. Only timely diagnosis and treatment can prevent the condition from exacerbating. Apart from making certain basic lifestyle changes such as consuming a healthy diet, getting adequate physical activity, and regular health check-ups at various stages of life, it is imperative that you take out time for yourself and indulge in activities that reduce stress.”

Communication is key. Dr. Chadha believes that it is important to talk about how you feel with those you are close to such as your partner, parents, or friends, surround yourself with those who motivate you, treat yourself with kindness and respect and avoid self-criticism, set realistic goals and remember it is alright to not achieve perfection in everything you do, make time for your hobbies and favourite projects. Above all, seek help when you need it and remember that doing so is not a sign of weakness.

Women need to invest in themselves, "guilt free," period.