What do freedom and power structures have to do with mental health? A lot

During my early interactions with people to assimilate them on the various aspects of mental health, I would stress on the need to understand that only when we get the ‘health’ angle of mental health can we begin to seek curative solutions to the issue. Children in conflict with the law and those who come in touch with the juvenile justice system in India have a higher prevalence of mental health conditions and substance abuse than others. At our workplaces, it would help to identify vulnerable co-workers who may find the work environment toxic, and therefore, impacting their mental health adversely. Even as we speak about the environment as a potential trigger for mental health conditions, we must also recognize that our social environment often makes those with existing mental health conditions even more vulnerable. Acknowledging the direct link between ‘power’ and mental health conditions and seeing a role for ourselves would be the right way to start affecting a change.