Speaking on the occasion of World Mental Health Day, the US Surgeon General was in a discussion with two young students and spoke about stigma asround mental health and how to navigate the world of social media
Dr Vivek Murthy, Surgeon General of United States, on Thursday shared his mental health struggles as he interacted with students at the Dhirubhai Ambani International School (DIAS) on the occasion of World Mental Health Day.
In a conversation with Avantika Kampani, head girl of the Dhirubhai Ambani International School (DAIS) and Sahil Gurbuxani, head, Student Wellbeing Task Force, American School of Bombay, Dr Murthy said: “We’re realising more and more how important mental health is to our wellbeing. I didn’t learn much about mental health in my medical training. But I realised that many patients I was treating were dealing with mental health issues and when it came to me, I had my own struggles as a student but I never talked to anyone about it because I felt ashamed. So, putting these things together, when I became Surgeon General, I realised we were in the midst of a youth mental health epidemic and if we didn’t do anything to address it, we would be sacrificing the overall wellbeing of children.”
He added: “What we realise more and more now is that mental health is the fuel that allows us to show up in our life, for family, for school and for the workplace. And if we’re not making sure that the fuel tank is full, then it’s like fighting with one hand behind your back.”
Kick-starting the discussion with the young duo on stage, Dr Murthy sought to know what good mental health meant for them.
The trio also spoke about the stigma surrounding discussions about mental health, noting that the first step was recognising one’s own feelings and thoughts before being able to communicate them with the outside world. The youngsters also detailed how they are put up to unimaginable standards as students which often creates stress and loneliness.
Dr Murthy touched upon the issue of social media, noting how parents across the United States were anxious and wanted to control their children’s access. “Apart from the number of hours spent on social media, parents were also seeing an erosion of self esteem in their children. We have been comparing ourselves to others for generations but what is new is the scale at which it is happening now on social media.”
Listing steps that some families had taken to curb the use of social media at home, Dr Murthy said many kept their phones on charge in the evening and went to sleep without taking the phone along. Also, some avoided phones during meal times.
The students, however, were quick to say that while they understood the benefits of keeping devices away, scrolling helped overcome “FOMO” [short for Fear Of Missing Out].
Asked how a balance could be maintained when it comes to social-media usage, the US Surgeon General gave the example of a professor trying to fit big rocks, small pebbles and sand into a jar in the best possible way. “If we put the sand first, the rocks can’t be squeezed in. Just like that, in life, you need to fix bigger priorities first, which are the rocks and then smaller priorities, which are pebbles. The bigger rocks are social connections and the relationships we have with people which have an impact on our well-being. So, spending time with people physically is more important. If social media is taking away from that, then it’s a problem.”
Dr Murthy was welcomed by Isha Ambani Piramal, Vice-Chairperson, Nita Mukesh Ambani Junior School (NMAJS) and an alumna of the Dhirubhai Ambani International School (DAIS).
“I am so pleased to be here with all of you today on World Mental Health Day and also honoured to welcome Vivek Murthy, Surgeon General of the United States. Dr Murthy is a spokesman for wellbeing and so many important causes and we couldn’t be more privileged to have him with us today.”
Noting how the school believed in prioritising mental health, she said: “Here at our school, we live by a set of values. Underneath these values such as respect, trust, and compassion, lies an understanding that the wellbeing of the community is inherent to our growth and inherent to our culture. My mother, she built this school, prioritised wellbeing and envisioned DAIS as a happy place where learning is a joy and teaching a pleasure. It is my hope that we can all work together in prioritising mental health because it matters to each and every one of us. Once again, it is my pleasure to be here and host Admiral Vivek Murthy.”
