Over the last couple of decades, words like stress, depression, mental health, work-life balance, and sabbatical have become ubiquitous in our conversations. These terms, unheard of just 20-30 years ago, are now frequently used by individuals from all walks of life, especially celebrities from film industry, sports, and corporates to explain struggles in personal and professional domains.
This shift is perplexing. The working environment has improved significantly over the years. There are better resources, supportive policies, enhanced transportation, advanced communication tools, and flexible work conditions.
Yet, terms like work pressure, competition, unrealistic deadlines, peer pressure, and performance stress dominate discussions, particularly when someone fails to meet expectations or faces a minor setback.
The Curious Case of Stress in Sports
Take, for instance, sports—a domain often associated with resilience and determination. In an interview, Kapil Dev, the skipper of India’s first Cricket World Cup-winning team, expressed surprise over the alleged performance pressure faced by modern cricketers during global tournaments.
How is it that today’s players, with access to world-class facilities, extensive support systems, and unparalleled opportunities, feel the weight of performance stress that previous generations seemingly shrugged off?
Psychologists often recommend engaging in sports and hobbies as a way for young individuals to cope with stress. Ironically, when a budding athlete fails to achieve the desired result, these same psychologists attribute the failure to the pressure of performance.
This double standard raises questions about the credibility of such advice.
Were Legends of the Past Immune?
Let us reflect on legends like Milkha Singh, the Flying Sikh, or PT Usha. When Milkha Singh narrowly missed out on an Olympic medal, did he succumb to depression? Did PT Usha become a mental health patient when she lost her medal by fractions of a second?
No. These words, these concepts, simply did not exist in their vocabulary or era. Their failures were seen as learning experiences, not as triggers for a mental health crisis.
Social Media and Mental Health Commercialization
A significant factor in the rise of this narrative is the relentless marketing of mental health awareness. Scroll through social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook, and you’ll encounter countless reels by self-proclaimed mental health experts.
They label every minor inconvenience—be it fatigue, irritation, or sadness—as a precursor to serious mental health issues. While awareness is important, isn’t this an overt push for commercial gains under the guise of specialization?
Are We Conditioning Vulnerability?
Consider the analogy of a toddler who falls while playing. If no one is watching, the child quickly gets up and moves on. But if the mother or someone nearby reacts with visible concern, the child starts crying for attention.
Today’s psychologists, counsellors, and mental health experts seem like sharks, ready to pounce on any hint of vulnerability to declare someone as their potential client. This conditioning of individuals to perceive every challenge as a mental health crisis is troubling.
Time for Reflection and Action
While mental health issues are real and should not be trivialized, it is equally important to question whether we are overhyping everyday struggles. Life comes with its ups and downs—challenges, failures, and setbacks are natural parts of growth.
We must equip our younger generation to face these realities with resilience and grit, not condition them to seek refuge in terms like stress and depression at the first sign of adversity.
As a society, we need to collectively think about how to protect the new generation from falling prey to the commercialization of mental health. Let’s emphasize strength, resilience, and self-reliance, and stop glorifying these words as excuses or marketing tools.
Only then can we build a stronger, more robust society capable of withstanding life’s inevitable challenges.
