Heena Sharma Blog

  For 14 years, Meenakshi Raman (name changed) had been taking her younger sister, 46-year-old Shruti (name changed), for treatment to the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) in New Delhi once a month. The sisters would spend the better part of the day there for Shruti’s treatment, occupational therapy and counselling for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) with bipolar affective disorder and traits of borderline personality disorder. Their monthly routine was abruptly halted in March with the outbreak of COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown. Shruti’s OCD symptoms and compulsive behaviours worsened due to her fear of infection. Without access to therapy and regular dosage of medicines--available for free at IHBAS’ outpatient department (OPD)--Shruti’s health deteriorated. Read More

  Nearly 50 per cent of India's working women are feeling increased stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic , claimed a survey conducted by online professional network LinkedIn. It revealed that the pandemic is taking a toll on the emotional well-being of India's working women as 47 per cent report they are experiencing more stress or anxiety due to the pandemic, LinkedIn said. For men, this number stood at 38 per cent, pointing towards a disproportionate impact on women in these testing times, it said. LinkedIn on Thursday announced the findings of the tenth edition of the LinkedIn Workforce Confidence Index, a fortnightly pulse on the confidence of India's workforce. Based on the survey responses of 2,254 professionals in India, findings from the weeks of July 27 - August 23 reveal the pandemic's impact on India's working mothers and working women, and the cautious optimism of freelancers towards personal finances and career prospects, it said. Read More

Instagram is running a social media experiment in Australia and elsewhere to see what happens when it hides the number of likes on photos and other posts. If you have an Instagram account, you’ll get to see the numbers but your followers won’t – at least, not automatically. They will be able to click and see who liked your post, but will have to count the list of names themselves. The trial is taking place right now in six countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Japan and New Zealand. Canada has just finished its trial. It’s a bold move by Instagram, but arguably a necessary one. There is growing concern about the effect of social media on young people’s mental health and self–esteem. Instagram explained: We want your friends to focus on the photos and videos you share, not how many likes they get. Likes, and their public tallying, have become the heart of Instagram and many other social media platforms. By hiding them, does Instagram risk devaluing a c...

Individuals with tattoos are more likely to be diagnosed with a mental health issue and report sleep problems, a recent study suggests. In a survey-based study published in the International Journal of Dermatology, the researchers also pointed out that people who had tattoos were more likely to be smokers, to have spent time in jail, and to have a higher number of sex partners. The survey was conducted in July of 2016 and resulted in a sample of 2,008 adults residing in the United States. "Previous research has established an association between having a tattoo and engaging in risky behaviours. In an era of the increasing popularity of tattoos, even among women and working professionals, we find these relationships persist but are not associated with lower health status," said Karoline Mortensen, lead author of the study. Read More Business Standard

Spinning charkha for one hour daily may improve concentration, multitasking abilities, patience and mind-body coordination of children and youth, a study claims. The study conducted by the Brain Behaviour Research Foundation Of India (BBRFI) here analysed the relevance of charkha (spinning wheel) among children and youth in the society. According to the research conducted for over a month on 30 individuals, 10 to 18 years of age, spinning a charkha everyday had positive and soothing effects on the participants. Pre and post training data was collected using brain mapping & electroencephalogram (EEG). Subjects were also tested for psychological, personality and intelligence quotient (IQ) tests. The study saw positive results in all aspects of behaviour, according to the research recently presented here by Chairperson of BBRFI, Meena Mishra. It provides scientific foundation to anecdotal reports of benefits of charkha spinning, Mishra said. Read Complet...

As most brides-to-be aspire for a fairytale wedding , they often neglect the stress and anxiety that comes along with it. Don't get too consumed and do take care of your mental health, experts suggest. Shreyasi Ghosh, Content Head, The Wedding Brigade and Saket Nath Tiwari, Psychiatrist, National Mental Health Programme, Ghaziabad, have shared their thoughts on importance of mental health -- whether you're a bride-to-be with a pre-existing mental health disorder or one with a serious case of pre-wedding blues: Accept your condition: As in the case of every other problem, even with depression, acceptance is the first step towards getting better. Even if your first reaction to your diagnosis is denial, know that acceptance is extremely empowering. It prepares you for your next step towards recovery. Acceptance, however, does not mean resignation to your problem. It means understanding you have special needs and finding those to better equip yourself to feel calme...

Findings of a recent study suggest that a major traumatic injury - such as car crashes and falls - could increase the risk of mental health diagnoses and even suicide . The research has been published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). "Major trauma was associated with a 40 per cent increased rate of hospital admission for 1 or more mental health diagnoses," writes Dr Christopher Evans of Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, with co-authors. "The most common mental health diagnoses were alcohol abuse, other drug abuse disorders and major depressive disorders." There is little evidence on the link between major injury and later mental health issues. This large study, based on more than 19 000 patients in Ontario, contributes to the literature on this important topic. Most participants who had experienced major trauma were male (70.7 per cent), lived in urban areas (82.6 per cent) and had accidental (89 per cent) rather than in...

As per a new study, pregnant women who have suffered from depression or bipolar disorder recognise baby faces and how babies laugh or cry differently. This happens even if they are not currently experiencing depressive or manic symptoms, although the authors stresses that research would be needed to confirm any long-term effects. Researchers compared 22 pregnant women, currently well but with a history of depression, and seven with bipolar disorder who were also currently well, against 28 healthy pregnant women. They also tested 18 non-pregnant women, as controls. Between the 27th and 39th weeks of pregnancy , all the women were tested for how they responded to a series of happy or sad faces, and to laughter and crying, of both babies and adults. Specifically, the women were asked to rate how happy or distressed the infants were based on infants' facial and vocal displays of emotion. They were also asked to identify adult facial expressions of emotion across varyi...

On September 6, India saw victory of law and love. The five bench Supreme Court unanimously passed an order on IPC Section 377 , making the country really free for everyone – including gays and transgenders for the first time since 1861. India has become a better country since then. Many trans and homo children, both girls and boys, have been violated within families and their parents have long lived in constant fear of their children being considered criminal. The Supreme Court ruling will give solace to them. ALSO READ: How the SC judgement on Section 377 ties constitutional values with emotion Changing such thought processes is an uphill task and can be achieved if it is tackled effectively on three fronts: increase solidarity from within and empower the community, sensitise and engage with policymakers, and educate masses through platforms that involve members of the community and the general population. As long as the general population does not interact and engage wi...

Turns out, brief cognitive behavioural therapy significantly improved the mental health of women overwhelmed by caring for children with severe chronic health conditions. Researchers at the University of Louisville found that after five therapy sessions, study participants reported significantly decreased depressive symptoms, negative thinking, and chronic stressors, and experienced improved sleep quality. "Women caring for children with chronic conditions such as cerebral palsy and cystic fibrosis are at high risk for depressive symptoms. They have many things to juggle, including caring for the child, administering medications and coordinating physician and therapy visits. They're stressed and overwhelmed by the amount of care their children require and the number of hours a day it takes," said study author Lynne Hall. Read Complete Article