In the early years of the previous millennia, there was no assessment of mental health like there is today. People who would fall ill from mental illness were treated as outcasts, called insanely and lunatics. The first mental asylum recorded in public history was the Bethlem Royal Hospital (then known as Bedlam) in London in 1247. That institution served two purposes – to isolate the people who caused trouble and provide care for those who could not be managed at home. Despite these intentions, the institution was barbaric torture and inhumane treatment conditions. Once institutionalized, those people had little to no hope of seeing the outside world again. As if the institution was created to keep them away from the rest of the society.
India has always been a country that has been accommodating of its people. Be it colonial rulers or barbaric attackers elsewhere; the land has been kind to provide and protect all. With changing socio-scientific scenarios and advancements in modern medicine, mental health concepts have also evolved. The mental asylums made during Muhammad Khilji were much different from the contemporary mental asylum in Delhi NCR in the present day. Of course, a lot has changed in between. Be it history or science, there have been centuries of advancements that have taken place.
Until the 19th century, mental illness was not considered a mental disorder. The shift in the thinking of the medical fraternity paved the way for treatments for mental illnesses. More people took an interest in dealing with the mind and experimenting with these illnesses and disorders. Cut to the 21st-century modern world. Over the years, the study and practice surrounding mental health have evolved. More research has been conducted, the medical diaspora has advanced and comes a long way in this discipline, making it more systematic and organized now.`
People use jargon to communicate better by enhancing a particular concept. With regards to this, another aspect that plays a crucial role is the terminology used to denote any institution. While the aims of mental institutions remained the same – treating mental illness, the language used to indicate these institutions have changed throughout history. While some of these names were relatively insensitive and derogatory, society has never shied away from casting a non-conforming individual. When you label something and give it a stamp of approval or disapproval, it sticks. The same happens when you name anything. The way mental asylums in Delhi and all over were named (along with the treatment methods) added to the social stigma surrounding mental health that we see today. Some of the names that were used for these institutions were –
Notice how these names are based on the symptoms or the behaviour of a person with mental illness. This only proves that society was neither very considerate nor aware of mental health. As time passed by and the medical fraternity got more organized, these institutions came to be known as the following –
Not only did the change in nomenclature help to clarify the kind of treatment these institutions provided, but it also led to a partial acceptance of mental health and the stigma surrounding it in society. There has been a deinstitutionalization of mental asylums in NCR and all over modern times due to the changing notions and attitudes of the public towards mental health.
Be it a mental asylum in Delhi or a rehabilitation centre, the core focus of these institutions remains the same. Mental Health and wellness is a priority, and the sooner people understand that the better response we will have towards healing as a collective group. There are specific issues with which these psychiatric institutions offer help. These can be –
Some medical doctors and professionals assess, diagnose, and treat their issues and provide some comfort or alleviate the symptoms. The most significant pain area of the patient is living with the disorders. Not only does this affect their personal life and relationship with their family, but it also affects their work, health, finances, and other aspects of their lives. Usually, a person approaches a counsellor or a therapist for these problems. But when the problem persists and becomes chronic, it is then taken to an expert from a mental asylum in Delhi NCR who can address the issue more effectively.
A mental health unit or a psychiatric institution is where specialized treatment for mental and behavioural health is administered. The institutions vary in size and grading, meaning that not every institution will have the same facilities and capacity to provide treatment. Generally, in these institutions, professionals associated with mental health offer their services and treat the patients. They can be –
These professionals are part of the mental health fraternity. They can either be medical professionals or non-medical professionals.
The proverb ignorance is bliss justifies the above question. For a blessed or privileged enough person to be unaware of the necessity of mental health and wellness, the need for all this talk surrounding mental health might be constricting or even make them feel uncomfortable. But try to take off the coloured glasses and give a good look at any mental asylum in NCR; the reality will be far away from what ignorance has led you to think. You will find teenagers loomed in addiction, patients desensitized to emotions, women and children traumatized after repeated sexual abuse, and so many more with complex issues that our brain can only fathom. Do those people not deserve to live a healthy and sane life? How would you feel if you or any of your loved ones were walking in their shoes? Would you still think mental health is unnecessary?
Gone are those days when health only denotes physical wellness. The mind is one of the, if not the most critical, parts of our body. It controls everything, from our thoughts to the emotions we feel, from how we behave to our decisions. If there are any chemical imbalances in the brain, we suffer from disorientation. Neglecting that for a prolonged period not only deteriorates the condition but also increases the chance of developing a mental illness and disorder. Thus, one should always look after their mental health as well.
Several specialists treat a physical ailment. Similarly, several mental health facilities at a mental asylum in Delhi NCR address and treat emotional, mental, and behavioural disorders. There are levels of care associated with these institutions, and not all of them provide the same type of treatment. In the era of technology where the internet has brought information, educating ourselves is the least we can do before assessing the requirement of an institution that ultimately aims for the collective betterment of society. So yes, mental institutions are much required in the face of this rapidly progressing fast lifestyle, where one in every three people is estimated to require a therapist by the end of 2030.
Our rehabilitation centre is based in Noida and provides solace to those who suffer from addictions and mental health disorders. Treating de-addiction has been our speciality, with our team of doctors, counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists having over thirty years of experience in the same field. Our experts reach out to treat your loved ones and understand the root causes of the problem to have a more systematic approach to the issue. At SimranShri, the best rehab centre in India, we provide the following services –
We understand the importance of mental health and the stigma surrounding it and mental asylum in Delhi NCR. That is why we strive to enable our residents to break the shackles of addiction while they stay at our wellness centre. Through increased spirituality and self-esteem, the person can better navigate their emotions and adopt a sense of belongingness.
With a scientific approach that empowers natural healing, we can give your loved ones a fresh start. The residents find a safe space to detoxify in our rehabilitation centre. With effective withdrawal management, they get better and closer to sobriety one day at a time. The road to recovery is a long one, and at SimranShri, we provide a special touch of care necessary to guide your loved ones on the right track. Reach out to us to know more. Come, let's take a stand and not let ignorance win. Let us build a better community, one mind at a time.
