If it wasn’t for my good friend Dr. Kersi Chavda, Mumbai’s venerable go-to psychiatrist, I would not have known today is World Mental Health Day. Or probably cared, either. I meet him frequently. We go to the same gym. And he always lurches in with a spring in his step. A naughty twinkle in his eye. Though it is early morning. As willing to crack a joke and spread good cheer in between his workouts as he is ready to dispense medical advice freely to the needy. Unlike some of today’s doctors who are notoriously insufferable highbrows and won’t give you the time of day. Kersi is a Parsi. And they are a happy and friendly people. Full of dum and masti. But some mornings he is listless. The face drawn, the eyes strained, shoulders drooping, the mind somewhere faraway. I know instinctively he has had a bad night. Probably spent counselling a distressed patient. The suicidal kind. That is the curse of psychiatry. It is a grim medical specialty whose doctors carry home the burden of their cases and worry over them through the night. It invariably tells on their own mental health. Deaths among doctors are highest among all
professionals. And among doctors, psychiatrists lead the toll. Over a cup of Pudhina Chai, Mutton Croissants, Bread Pudding and Chicken Pattice at his home, Kersi unburdened his soul and told
me all about it. Psychiatrist were seeing a rise in cases of mental health.
Especially after Covid. About 30-40% of patients in the friendly neighbourhood GP’s clinic had psychiatric issues. Though only 1% were willing to admit it or accept treatment. Many were misled by Dr. Google – the online answer to all of life’s worries. But medicine had progressed. CT Scans and MRIs showing the
structure of the brain now revealed the genetic component. It was a biological issue. Not esoteric. Mental health was more than anxiety and depression. It was everything from OCD to drug abuse. And included autism, anorexia, road rage, detachment, crimes of passion, relationship issues, domestic violence against
women, children and the elderly, panic attacks, postpartum depression, Dementia, Schizophrenia, Down Syndrome, addiction, social media dependency, suicidal tendencies, bullying, divorce…it just went on. The young were especially at risk. It was important to look for red flags early on. The old common sense
counselling didn’t work. There were restrictive legal issues. Psychiatrists were getting affected. Spending sleepless nights. Waking up several times to check their phones. Young doctors were finding it hard to take it. But mental health is a universal right now. And our psychiatrists were making it happen. I gave Kersi a hug when I left…
About Mark Manuel
The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.
With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.
Further
His interviews have been featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him in the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.
Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward in a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work.
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