It always hurts when you see any spike in distress
calls to health helplines, but these numbers were alarming as the situation of
uncertainty has worsen and caseload of affected people kept rising during
pandemic. While on a move for VGSS NGO food distribution drive our volunteers
come across many people struggling with anxiety and depression like disorders
of mental health.
VGSS NGO took up the initiative to help these people
in whatever way we can to address their mental health issues and came up with a
dedicated contact point, but this doesn’t help much after a time as the
number of distress calls received by our team of volunteers to help people
struggling with such health tendencies were more than our expected lines. Initially
due to unexpected lockdown, there were many messages from the families of
children, senior citizen, community workers where we run our support program, migrant
workers on streets and others who were not able to get food, basic items and
medical supplies.
People
from all sections of society were seeking help for depression and we witnessed
a regular increase in calls from people struggling with anxiety and/or
loneliness. Lack of food and daily use items, non payments of EMI,
unavailability of basic medicines, not being able to pay children’s school fees
due to loss of income or pay cuts were the major reasons for their uneasiness
initially.
Callers
were apprehensive of small things as they had lost their jobs or were on the
verge of losing their jobs. Our volunteers experienced a marked increase in
such calls for a few days post actor Sushant Singh Rajput untimely demise. Distress
calls with even suicidal thoughts were due to various issues such as COVID
related issues, financial problems, domestic issues, unemployment, uneasy
relationships and even survival problems.
We
would like to thank all other NGOs, medical experts and volunteers who were
great help to people across India during this period. As we received calls in
big numbers since our volunteers took this initiative, it was made easy by these
selfless people and organisations that we were able to support people
struggling with unusual mental state.
Dear Friends, kindly accept our positive vibes and sincere thanks as we at VGSS NGO sincerely believe that you are an asset we all must cherish.
We
once again appeal to everyone to just reach out to the people close to you and
always remember that mental well being is immensely important too. Be happy and
kind to those around you and don’t forget to spread happiness. We hope each and
every one of you is safe and healthy and remain so at all times and specially
during pandemic. In these gloomy times look for the news that would get your
hopes up and that is, to take care of yourself not only of your physical self
but your mental self as well.
