‘Although there is a lot of global data, there is no comprehensive India-specific data available. The need of the hour is to conduct research studies in this area for the Indian population. We shall conduct research over a large geographic area into the demographics, causes and management of sleep disorders,’ Desai told IANS. He said sleep disorders are a new area of interest globally, as studies have shown that an increasing number of lifestyle diseases are directly attributable to lack of proper sleep.

Read: Five foods to improve sleep

Eurosleep global CEO Magne Tvinnereim said that globally validated set protocols are being instituted at all NSS centres. ‘NSS’s involvement in this research aims to achieve complete online data integration, to generate meaningful insights from the data collected on the Indian population,’ Tvinnereim explained. NSS co-founder Mahesh Reddy said that the Nova-Eurosleep Sleep Clinics are the largest provider of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities for the comprehensive study and management of sleep-related disorders in India. NSS has 10 clinics in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad and one in Muscat. The treatment is mostly day-care but for serious cases requiring surgery, it can be as long as a week. The treatment can cost anything between RS 50,000 and Rs 200,000.

Read: Ten tips for better sleep

Referring to the dangers of sleep disorders, Eurosleep Asia CEO Mohan Nair said these can give rise to several physiological and psychological changes. ‘Besides, sleep disorders heighten the risk of developing hypertension, Type II diabetes and increased body weight. These factors aggravate the risk of cardiovascular diseases,’ Nair warned. While there are some 80 kinds of sleep disorders, the World Association of Sleep Medicine, the organisers of the World Sleep Day every year, says one of the most common is obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) that causes the throat muscles to relax too much, cutting off or restricting the airway. Nair quoted an international study which proved that OSA represents a stress that promotes insulin resistance and hence, atherosclerosis, or narrowing of the blood vessels.

The study, published in the prestigious American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, investigated the relationship between sleep-disordered breathing and insulin resistance. It found that OSA subjects were more insulin resistant, as indicated by higher levels of fasting serum insulin that was present in both obese and non-obese participants.

 An analysis of the relationship of insulin resistance and hypertension confirmed that insulin resistance was a significant factor for hypertension in this group and OSA may provide a stress stimulus that triggers or aggravates hypertension. Upto 40 percent patients suffering from OSA had increased blood pressure. Among the younger population, sleep-disordered breathing in children is a public health concern, given the increasing rates of obesity and hyperactivity in this segment. According to research studies, 3-12 pecent of children snore; OSA affects one-10 percent, leading to a host of health problems which may continue to cause concern or aggravate as they grow.

Since the past one year, Eurosleep Asia has been strengthening its operations in India with focus on spreading technological advancements and know-how, which would facilitiate the proposed research on sleep disorders among Indians. Contrary to the general perception that sleep apnea is a problem associated with the elderly population, Desai said it is prevalent even among children.  ‘Consequences of untreated obstructive sleep apnea among children include failure to thrive, enuresis, attention-deficit disorder, behavior problems, poor academic performance, and cardiopulmonary disease,’ Desai cautioned.

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Source: IANS

March 15 is World Sleep Day. 

Whether it’s a one-off occurrence before a big event or a nightly struggle, most of us suffer from insomnia at one time or another. Fortunately, there are many foods that can help you sleep a little easier. To help you relax and catch some Zs, check out our top five foods to help you sleep.

Dairy products

If you’re struggling to get a good night’s sleep, foods containing tryptophan should be your first port of call. Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, helps to raise serotonin and melatonin levels in the body, both of which can help induce sleep. While turkey is a famously good source of tryptophan, other (perhaps more bedtime-friendly) sources include dairy products such as yoghurt and milk.  On top of their tryptophan levels, dairy snacks are also a great source of calcium, which helps the brain to use tryptophan to create melatonin. Research has also suggested that a deficiency of calcium in the diet can cause disturbed sleep patterns and a lack of deep (REM) sleep.

 Oats

While many of us associate oats with breakfast time, they are also the perfect evening snack. Oats are a good natural source of melatonin, which is often taken as a sleep aid due to its ability to help regulate the body’s internal clock. They are also another good source of tryptophan, especially when combined with milk. Furthermore, oats are rich in both calcium and magnesium; two minerals that have been proven to promote good quality sleep. For a warm, soothing snack before bed, try eating a small bowl of porridge to help you drift off, combined with any of the following toppings to help double its effects.

 Bananas

If you suffer from muscle spasms or cramps during the night, it may be that you are deficient in the electrolytes magnesium and potassium, both of which help to relax muscles and keep them functioning properly. Fortunately, bananas are excellent source of both minerals, making them a good bedtime snack, particularly after a heavy exercise session. As well as being rich in these essential minerals, bananas also contain tryptophan, which can help to promote sleep. Researchers from the University of New England in New South Wales have also found that having a banana before bed can help sufferers of sleep apnea by keeping their throats open and therefore reducing the risk of choking.

 Cherries

For those who have trouble sleeping, you may be familiar with over-the-counter melatonin supplements used to treat insomnia. However, while melatonin can help to regulate sleep, it may be unwise to rely on supplements for long-term use. Fortunately, cherries provide a great natural source of melatonin as well as being excellent for overall health. A research study published in The Journal of Sleep and Sleep Disorders Research has indicated that consuming tart cherries before bed helped participants sleep faster and easier, making fresh cherries or cherry juice a great natural sleep aid.

Flax seeds

Flax seeds are great for increasing levels of sleep-regulating substance serotonin in the body due to their high levels of both tryptophan and omega-3 fatty acids. Furthermore, the omega-3 fatty acids they contain have been proven to help reduce the anxiety, depression and stress which are leading causes of insomnia, and have been shown to be effective against the condition sleep apnea. Not only that, flax seeds are a good source of magnesium, which is renowned for its ability to reduce stress due to its relaxing effect on the muscles and nervous system. Magnesium has also been shown to help prevent restless leg syndrome and night terrors; both of which can affect sleep.

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Also read: Ten tips for better sleep

Content Courtesy: www.realbuzz.com

Another problem is the school environment, where marks are everything, failure is looked down upon and only your ability to memorize your text word-for-word is lauded.   But what about those children who can’t memorize but can learn? Isn’t that why we want our children to have an education, to be able to use it in the real world?

If you are a student appearing for an exam, remember that there are other professions apart from medicine or engineering. If your passion lies in being a doctor, or an engineer, it is the best thing for you to do, but just going after it because your entire class is, is a bad idea! Putting undue pressure on yourself is only going to result in unwanted stress. Here are a few symptoms of stress you should look out for:

Symptoms of stress:

• If experience difficulty in falling asleep or don’t want to wake up.
• If you are constantly tired.
• If you find you are losing interest in activities that you enjoyed earlier.
• If you experience unexplained aches and pains.
• You don’t feel hungry or feel nauseous.
• If you are more irritable or anxious than normal.
• If you have a constant or repeatedly occurring headaches.
• If you experience your heart beating faster, also known as palpitations.

These are the general symptoms, but your general state of mind also plays an important role in determining if you actually are stressed or not. Just before your exams, you can do the following things to keep your stress levels in check;

• If you feel stressed out, take a break. Chat with your friends or just go for a walk This will help you clear your head and get things into perspective.
• Do not compare or talk about how much of your portion you have finished or anything related to your studies. Everybody has a different pace of studying, embrace yours. Make achievable targets and work towards achieving it. Making a check list always helps in encouraging you to achieve your target.
• Always eat nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables. Your brain cannot function to its best if all you are giving it is junk food. Think of yourself as a machine, it will not work well if you don’t give it the right fuel.
• Get 8 hours of sleep. It’s a common practice to pull all-nighters before an exams, but this habit can severely hamper your performance. Apart from the risk that you might fall asleep during the exam, there is also the real possibility that you might blank out on less sleep.
• Do not panic. It will only lead to you forgetting what you already know. Read your paper calmly and start by answering questions you already know the answers to. Then attempt the difficult questions.

If you are done with your exams, here is how you can handle result related anxiety:

 Exams or the results are not the end of the world: Studying for an exam is mandatory to learn and do well, but do not stress out because of it. Address the fears you might have, do you think you might fail? Or do you think you will do well, but not as good as your parents or peers expected? Remember that the marks you get on one paper are not going to decide your entire life. There are a number of eminent people in the world who were so severely disabled when it came to studies that they could not even clear a single paper. Your marks will only show you where you need to improve. Remember there is always a next time.

Suicide is not the answer: If you feel the pressure mounting, take a short break and just relax. You could try deep breathing or just going out for a walk. Talk to someone you trust about how you are feeling and why you are feeling so. Taking your life, because you are afraid of the consequences is the worst thing you can do to yourself and family.

Talk to your parents: Your parents are just worried about you. If you feel your parents are putting too much pressure on you, talk to a teacher or a counsellor. Tell them and ask for help getting rid of the stress. If you have no such recourse, talk to your parents and tell them how you are feeling.

If you are a parent, it is important that you understand your child’s point of view and state of mind. It will help your child a great deal if you help him/her understand you are there at all times. Making them feel like they have someone who will understand their state of mind, will help them relax and accept the results without fear. Do not stigmatise a child who is unable to perform, or feel ashamed of him/her, instead hone their talents. Children are smarter than you think, they are very good in picking up on your moods without you speaking a word, so keep in mind that you have to be whole heartedly supportive.

Also Read: 

Exam diet: Foods to boost your brain power

Top 10 ways to survive the exams

It’s exam time again, and the cases of students pushing themselves to the brink for better results are rising. While giving an exam can be a very stressful period for the student as well as their family, there are a few things you can do to make the process much smoother. Here are some of them:

1. Sleep: Recent research has found that sleeping could be the most crucial thing you can do before your exam. Sleeping is a voluntary action governed by the VLPO (ventrolateral preoptic nucleus) centre of the brain. This centre helps the brain and body fall asleep. When the brain is active, this centre is suppressed, but once the brain is over worked, it requires rest to recuperate from all the learning. So give your brain a little rest and watch it perform to the best of its ability the next morning.

2. Relax: Right before the exam is when most students become very nervous. Try this just before your exam – sit at your desk and close your eyes, take in a few deep breaths and exhale from your mouth. Before you open your eyes, rub your palms together to make them warm and place them on your eyes, then slowly open them. You will feel much more relaxed and focused.

Read: Exam stress taking a toll on students

3. Revise: Revision is probably most important when it comes to retaining all the facts you learn. When we learn, the human brain tends to compartmentalize the information. As we learn new things the information gets stored in different sections. Therefore while we study for multiple subjects during the preparatory period, it is important to refresh the information we require for the next day. Make a schedule to revise and if possible, set aside an entire day to revise.

4. Eat healthy: It is a common practice during the exams, to cut down on the food you eat. To some students it would seem like a waste of time and some are just too nervous to eat. Dieticians suggest that a healthy and nutritious diet is very important during the preparatory as well as the exam period because the right foods can help you learn better. Food is like fuel for your body and brain. When we eat, the body breaks down the food into its components. One of the most important foods for the brain is glucose. It helps in maintaining proper transmission of signals between synapses (space between the neurons of the brain). A lack of food causes the brain to be sluggish and stressed. On the day of the exam, eat well before you step out. An empty and growling stomach is only going to make you more uneasy and tired. 

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 12 exams will get under way March 1. ‘It’s astonishing how much stress a child undergoes during this period,’ said Suchi Borah, a student counsellor at a private school. ‘Up to a certain limit, stress helps you perform better. Beyond that, it becomes distress. Every child is different and some are more vulnerable than others. Hence, everyone has their own coping ability. There is pressure of performance by parents, comparison with peers and high cut-offs for college admissions ahead. Support from all quarters in this period is very important’. ‘To add to that, children at this stage are adolescents, and are also coping with biological changes,’ Malhotra added. Snehi, an NGO which runs a pre-exam Disha helpline (011-65978181) every year before the CBSE board exams, has been flooded with anxious calls from students since it became operational Feb 1.

Snehi director Abdul Mabood said: ‘In 2012, received 1,497 calls, of which 94 percent were distressed students. There were calls from parents too. In our 14 years’ experience of running this helpline, we have realised that the mounting stress during the pre-exam period is not just detrimental to a child’s future career but also to their physical and mental health’. In the run-up to the exam day, time management is crucial to effectively manage stress, experts say. ‘This is a crucial period for students and time management is important. They should make time tables and plan on how to do revision of their subjects. You need not stick to a particular time of the day – depending on your comfort, you can study early morning or late night,’ Ruchi Seth, principal of the Delhi Public School (DPS), Gurgaon, told IANS. She also advised against private coaching.

Qualitative studying, rather than quantitative, is what counts, added Prashant Parashar B., principal of G.D. Goenka school, Agra. ‘Intermittent studying, with space for relaxation, is effective. In my 15 years’ experience as a teacher, I have never seen quantitative studying as beneficial. In fact, if forced, students while away their time instead of being able to focus’.

Parashar also advised solving sample papers and practising written work. Samir Parikh, director of the mental health and behavioural science department at Fortis Healthcare, had a word of advice for parents. ‘Parents should not project their anxiety on the kids during this time. Instead, they should take care of the child’s diet and ensure that he or she takes time out to relax in between studies’. ‘I also think that schools should start teaching examination skills to students. It has become very crucial in today’s times,’ Parikh told IANS.

Source: IANS

‘Everyone has these types of concerns now and again in their relationships, but a high level of attachment anxiety refers to people who have these worries fairly constantly in most of their relationships,’ said Lisa Jaremka, postdoctoral fellow at Ohio’s Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research (IBMR), who led the study. Jaremka and colleagues tested the effect of attachment anxiety on 85 couples who had been married for an average of more than 12 years. Their average age was 39 years.

Those with higher attachment anxiety produced, on average, 11 percent more cortisol than did those with lower attachment anxiety. The more anxiously attached participants also had between 11 percent and 22 percent fewer T cells than did less anxiously attached partners. Four T-cell markers were analysed in the study.

Source: IANS

If you have trouble falling asleep on most nights or wake up several times during sleep and  feel tired during the day, it is time you acknowledge that insomnia is taking its toll on you.

Factors like increasing age, hormonal changes (eg: thyroid disease), physical ailments or diseases may cause sleeplessness. Any type of physical pain can also preventing you from having a good night’s sleep.  

Regular night-outs or late night parties, high amounts of junk food (especially at night), irregular eating, sleeping at odd hours, working late nights or working the night shift triggers a random response in the “Circadian Cycle” (responsible for maintaining natural processes) and may eventually cause insomnia.

Some of the medicines like those for the heart and blood pressure, antidepressants, steroids, weight loss medications etc can cause insomnia. If you have been taking sleeping pills for a while, withdrawal symptoms may cause rebound insomnia.

Stress, anxiety, depression and bipolar disorders are on the major modern-day causes that can keep you awake through the night. Professional help may be required in such cases.

Tips to sleep better:

1. Stick to your sleep time – Each one of one is unique, even with our sleep patterns. Some people feel refreshed with only 6 hours of sleep; others might need 9 – 10 hours. Know what your body needs. Fix up your sleep time accordingly. Always maintain regular sleep and waking up times to regularize your sleep patterns.
2. Visit the doctor – Your physician can help to review any drugs, medical conditions or stressful situations that may be causing your insomnia or making it worse.
3. Lifestyle management – Maintain a routine that is not extreme. If your work demands it, balance it by other factors like diet and a healthy mental state. Meditation, creative visualization may help you be calmer and restful.
4. Daytime sleepiness – Stop those afternoon naps. Indulge in some physical activity that requires you to move about during that time.
5. Physical activity – Physical exercise or a walk before bed time is ideal for chronic insomnia. Team up with someone or even with soothing music to help you maintain it as a habit.
6. Diet – Have a healthy dinner, drink warm milk or herbal tea with camomile. Avoid caffeine, alcohol and tobacco to help you sleep quickly.
7. Pamper yourself to sleep – Warm bath with bath salts, massages, soothing music or chants, stomach rub or a hot water bottle can help.
8. Avoid any engaging activity  – Watching TV or reading a book just because you cannot sleep may often work against letting you sleep.
9. Do something monotonous – Count sheep or try to chant the alphabet backwards. Keep at it till you sleep out of sheer boredom. 

Follow these simple rules and realize that your body needs rest and therefore it is absolutely imperative that you get enough sleep. Research suggests a lot of diseases, conditions, stress-related disorders, etc. can be avoided by ensuring you get a good night’s sleep.

As an illness, depression is as debilitating as a heart disease or HIV/AIDS. Those who suffer from the condition often describe the feeling as having a black cloud over their heads, which prevents them from enjoying anything or even functioning normally. One out of 20 people in the world suffer from depression but sadly many of them are forced to live in denial about the disease.

So how is depression different from sadness?

Sadness is part of the life without which happiness would have no meaning. To feel sad during major life crises like the death of a loved one, losing a job or the ending of a relationship is normal. Depression on the other hand is a condition where there is prolonged sadness and an individual’s mood isn’t tied to life events. While healthy individuals have moods related to life events, people suffering from depression suffer from disproportionate amount of sadness and guilt. It is a serious medical condition in which the symptoms make it difficult for the person to function in society, often leads to poor physical health and severe emotional pain.  

How common is depression?

One out of every 20 people you know probably suffers from depression. The numbers are hard to pin down for a mental illness like depression because the symptoms are seen as a continuation of everyday-life behaviour. However, considering that 1.8 lakh Indians commit suicide every year and there are 20 times more attempts, which means at least 36 lakh people in India are surely suffering from major depressive disorder.

What are the different types of depression?

There are basically four types of depression –

1. Clinical or Major depression
2. Bipolar or Manic-depressive disorder
3. Postpartum depression (depression after delivery of child)
4. Seasonal affective disorder (It usually doesn’t affect people who live in tropical climates like India.)

Clinical and bipolar depressions have two milder phases called dysthymia and cyclothymia, respectively which has similar symptoms but on a milder level and usually lasts longer. Some of the common symptoms of major depression include – despair and loneliness, unwillingness to do the simplest tasks, low energy levels, recurring nightmares and sleep disorders, loss of libido and appetite. These symptoms usually last for over two months.

Bipolar disorder on the other hand is a cyclical disorder characterised by two phases – a manic phase and a depressive phase. In the manic phase, the patient is likely to suffer from delusions of grandeur, excessive self-confidence, feeling of euphoria and higher sexual drive while the depressive phase is very similar to the aforementioned symptoms of major depression.

Causes of depression

What causes depression? Researchers still haven’t zeroed on what causes depression per se but various conditions are usually present in the sufferers. Trauma, grief, work issues, love and relationship troubles and genetic pre-disposition all have a causal link to depression. Some other factors include alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, obesity and pregnancies.

But a cure is not hard to find…

Mental illness is a big problem in our culture, in fact any culture. People don’t like to acknowledge that they aren’t a fully functioning member of society (whatever that means) and there’s a tendency to hush up mental illnesses. It’s almost considered taboo to visit a counsellor or psychiatrist to seek help. Perhaps it has something to do with the way mental illnesses show distinct changes in our personality, cognition and behaviour – the very things that define our being; unlike a physical illness where a certain organ or part of the body is affected. First and foremost, it’s very important to seek professional help

• Seek professional help: You wouldn’t try to self-medicate or refuse to believe you have a problem if you suffered from a heart disease would you? The same goes for the mind. Denial – self or otherwise – simply compounds the problem. The fact is that unlike other diseases which are either untreatable or whose treatment costs are expensive depression has an economic and cost-effective solution. It’s imperative to get professional help and there’s absolutely nothing to be ashamed of in visiting a therapist or counsellor.
• Physical exercise : There has been ample research to prove that physical exercise of all form helps keep the blues away. One of the reasons for this is the feel-good hormones like endorphins and testosterone are released during exercise which makes us feel good. Even walking for 15-30 minutes can make a difference.
• Healthy balanced diet: A health, all around balanced diet is another way to keep depression at bay. For example, omega 3 fatty acids found in fish and vegetable oils play helps keep a part by helping regulate neurotransmitters like serotonin which is used in anti-depressants. Foods high on antioxidants (green tea, broccoli, oranges, spinach, pumpkin, papaya) are also a must.
• Relaxation techniques: Another great way to beat depression is by relaxing. This can include anything you like to do like a walk in the park, meditation, taking up a hobby or even listening to music. It’s necessary get away from the daily grind of life.
• Get proper sleep: Although lack of sleep alone can’t cause depression it is one of the causes. So it’s imperative to get some shut-eye. Make a daily routine for bedtime if you’ve to. Abstain from nicotine, alcohol or caffeine in the evening.
• Share with your loved ones or support groups: One of the most effective non-medicated treatments for depression is sharing with your loved ones. However, this might not be possible for some people and this is where support groups come in handy. Not only do you get to share your feelings but you get to do it with a person who’s been through the exact same problems and knows how to deal with it.

And lastly believe…

The human spirit is insurmountable and depression is like any other hurdle which can be overcome. There is no magic pill to get rid of it; even antidepressants can work that far. In fact, the USFDA found that inert placebos have a significantly high effect meaning that believing you’re taking antidepressants seems to do the trick. So perhaps the answer lies in believing. Don’t let the black cloud win. 

• Do your homework Get some information about the various alcoholic beverages served. Look up the common ones. Understand that the alcohol content in them as it varies. Taste a few at home to familiarize and understand what flavours you like and are comfortable with. You can also learn about what kind of drinks goes with what food.
• Pace yourself Sip your drink instead of gulping it down. Set an upper limit beforehand. Two drinks is a good limit. Dilute the stronger drinks with water or juice or cold drinks of your choice.
• Remember to stay hydrated Water is your best friend. Drinking water helps in flushing out the toxins as well as staying sober.
• Don’t mix your drinks It’s not advisable to experiment with different types of alcohol at the same time. It may not suit you. Stick to what you are most comfortable with.
• Eat, drink, and be merry Snacking on food items helps in controlling the intoxication that comes along with drinking alcohol. Foods high in protein slow down the absorption of alcohol into our system. Never drink on an empty stomach as you may get intoxicated faster. Remember that drinks are accompaniments to food, not the other way around.
• Be aware of yourself Be aware of where you are and what is your role there. Notice the way you handle your drink. Remember that alcohol consumption lowers your inhibitions and dulls your senses. Hence, it is very important to know when to say NO.
• Saying No You can say “No” to social drinking every once a while. You don’t have to drink just because everyone else is. Don’t drink if you don’t feel like it. Have a soft drink instead.

Too much of anything is bad. Repetitive usage makes it a habit. When you cannot do without that habit, it becomes an addiction. When your life starts revolving around that habit, it becomes an addiction. When your personal, professional and social life gets impaired because of that habit, it becomes an addiction.

There is no compulsion to drink alcoholic beverages. You can stick to juices or aerated non – alcoholic beverages or water when you attend social events. It is your choice.

So if you choose to be a social drinker, keep it to that. It’s when you start using social outings as an excuse to drink; you are a step away from getting addicted.

Here’s a quick guide to some of the common alcoholic beverages available and served –

Alcoholic Beverage – Alcohol Content*
Wine Between 9% to 16% (most often 12.5% –14.5%)
Beer Between 2% to 12% (usually 4% – 6%)
Rum Between 37.5% to 80%
Vodka Between 35% to 50% (usually 40%)
Brandy Between 35%–60% (usually 40%)
Whisky 40%–55% (usually 40% or 43%)
Gin Between 40% to 50%

The ideal number of drinks shouldn’t exceed more than 2 glasses. If the event goes on for a longer duration, switch to water or soft drinks.  Remember addiction is bad and it’s your duty to keep it at bay. Here’s to responsible drinking. 
*source: Wikipedia

October 10 is World Mental Health Day

It is early morning, and inside a single-storey building’s basement, a man picks up one of four ringing telephones. He asks the caller in a deep baritone: “But what went wrong?” and steers the person towards an hour-long conversation.

It was a depressed caller, he says later. The man, who uses the pseudonym Zaki Shah, is from the hush-hush world of ‘talk therapy’ where people feeling depressed or suicidal find refuge in the voices of counsellors sitting far away and working at odd hours.

The headquarters of this 24-hour 14-state helpline, 022-25706000 run by St. Stephen’s Hospital and Emmanuel Hospital Association, revealed a world of despair and rescue where identities are withheld as new hopes are born. The helpline, started in October last year, has seen an increase in the density of calls from Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and even the northeast. Also, more youths from small towns now share their woes on the phone. ”In small towns, visiting a psychiatrist is not a viable option due to stigma and availability. So they find refuge in helplines,” says Shah. The busiest months are February and March when calls a day go up to 100. The reasons: exams and stressed students and parents, say the counsellors.

According to a 2009 National Crime Records Bureau report, 15 people committed suicide in the country every hour. The World Health Organisation says depression, one of the causes of suicide, will be the second-most prevalent medical condition in the world by 2020.

The helpline has nine counsellors working in three shifts, and all they have are computers and telephones. Available on 1860-266-2345, the helpline has received around 2,000 calls so far. ”To maintain confidentiality, we cannot reveal our or the caller’s identity to any other person. In telephonic counselling, it is plain talk therapy working,” a counsellor who uses the pseudonym Vidhi Sharma tells IANS. ”I am not even supposed to tell you my name. It is just the caller who should know about me,” she says. ”On telephone, we have to catch the callers’ non-verbal cues also. Unlike face-to-face counselling, we cannot analyse the body language. Only tones and words are available to us,” says Sharma. The counsellors, mostly with a masters degree in psychology, come trained for the job.

Sharma talks about the “invisible equation” created by these helplines. Overcoming the fear of being judged is the biggest advantage to the distressed seeking help, she says. The team of counsellors has mastered the art of pulling back depressed callers into life. However, the task is tough when they have to deal with violent callers or elderly who have lost hope. ”It is a challenge to calm down violent callers who first need medical help. Our first priority is to buy time from people who are on the verge of committing suicide,” says Shah, who is a theatre artiste when not counselling. ”After a detailed analysis of the caller, we assess if the person needs to be referred to a psychiatrist. Certain calls can leave us emotionally drained too,” he says, adding that the callers just want to be heard.

The helpline maintains a database of local psychiatry centres and NGOs that help patients. It does not end here. Counsellors also follow up on each person who called for help. Coming against the popular perception that “men don’t cry”, nearly 70 percent of callers are men and they cry, the counsellors say. ”The problems of men and women are alike — work-related stress, relationship issues and loneliness. Our patriarchal society has created a mental conditioning that says boys are stronger than girls,” says a counsellor with the pseudonym Tanvi John.

The callers are mostly from the 16 to 30 age group, says Shah. In the course of these conversations, some callers become friends of the counsellors. ”It takes an hour to gauge what is on the mind of a caller. Soon, they become regular callers and update us on their lives. It is satisfying to hear them doing well,” says Shah as he rushes to attend a call.

Helpline: 022-25706000

Source: IANS