Understanding Mental Health in India in the Midst of a Pandemic [Tilottama Mukherjee]

Abstract:

The advent of Covid 19 has had a profound effect on the human psyche and has brought a drastic change in the area of mental health. Not only has it altered the quality of our lives but has changed the manner in which individuals view mental health issues. Each of the following four researches conducted in India during the first and second waves of the pandemic help us to explore the impact of Covid 19 on different facets of mental health among Indian citizens.  The  studies shed light on mental health stigma and the tendencies of professional help seeking in the middle of the pandemic among young, late and early middle aged adults. The researches also talk about the different COVID-19 specific health beliefs held by Indian adults, as well as the barriers of performing health behavior, and the extent to which they comply with the COVID-19 behavior protocols.Restrictions in social interactions and a constant emotional turmoil in the wake of the pandemic have put young adults, particularly students at risk. One of the four studies conducted during this period tries to explore how factors such as loneliness and cognitive emotion regulation contribute to the psychological wellbeing of students during the pandemic. Similarly another study carried out in the midst of the pandemic explores  the impact of COVID-19 on general health, the quality of life and resilience of COVID-19 survivors from India. The researches conducted have thus revealed notable findings that aid us to study in great detail areas such as mental health stigma, culture specific health behaviours in India, loneliness, psychological well-being, impact of the pandemic, quality of life and resilience among Indian citizens.

Keywords:

Pandemic, Psychological well-being, Gender inequality

Short bio:

Dr. Tilottama Mukherjee is an Associate Professor and the Head of the Department of Psychology at University of Calcutta. She is an RCI registered Clinical Psychologist, residing in Kolkata, India. Dr. Mukherjee has over 50 publications in national and international peer reviewed journals and books. She has presented her research papers in various conferences all over the world. Dr. Mukherjee was awarded the Most Promising Scientist Award in 2012 by the Psychological Union of Science – at Stellenbosch University, Cape Town. Over the years Dr. Mukherjee has guided and supervised several Phd and M.Phil candidates in their research and course work. Her area of interests lies in personality disorders, third wave behaviour therapy, autobiographical memory and mental health during covid 19. Over the past 2 years Dr. Mukherjee has done extensive research on the manner in which the pandemic has impacted the mental health of individuals and their psychosocial well-being. She currently heads the Department of Psychology, University of Calcutta, India.