Speak Up

By Rtr. Afra Irfan

“Where does it hurt?” they ask. Is it a pain in your stomach? Or an aching head? Is it a burning fever? Or a sprained leg? Physical ailments are a common occurrence. Everyone talks about them. Everyone understands them.
 But what people fail to understand is that issues with health are not solely restricted to the physical aspects of it. Health is not only in body but also in mind. But, when it comes to mental health, people tend to be quite reluctant not only to talk about it,and discuss it. They’re actually much more reluctant to admit it. No one seems to pay much attention when it’s your heart that hurts.

Our culture and society, the taboo and social stigma that comes associated with mental health has made it almost impossible for us to reach out and talk about what pains us. And even if people were willing to do so, it is quite rare that they have access to the necessary professional help or that they are able to actually afford it.

As a solution to this widespread problem the Rotaract Club of CCS launched an online campaign in January; "Speak Up", which allowed anyone from anywhere in the world to anonymously submit their questions regarding mental health. By reaching out and directing these questions to professionals with expertise in the field of psychiatry, we were able to help out many people seeking answers and solutions to these problems.

Working with us was Dr. M. Sumanathissa, consultant psychiatrist at the District General Hospital, Nawalapitiya, who took time off his busy schedule to offer his valuable advice. The answers were made accessible to everyone so that it could benefit people with similar issues.

It was also our intention to raise awareness that mental well being is also important. We have to normalize the fact there are existing issues with mental health and that we need to talk about it and take these problems seriously. We don’t let open wounds in our body, our soul, our mind and heart to fester,spread and grow. Rather we tend to them. We soothe them. And we heal them. #ReachOut #SpeakUp