US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy called for a greater collaboration between the United States and India on matters of mental health, saying that such cooperation would not only be beneficial to the two nations but to the whole world.
During his recent speech, he urged that work on mental health must step up and accelerate with an urgent tone of calling out the terrible consequences of not doing so now. “The time is now to focus on mental health, as the stakes are high and will only escalate unless we address this critical issue,” he declared.
Given 60 years of health cooperation between the US and India, in which India succeeded in eradicating smallpox and polio and continues to fight against HIV, Dr. Murthy reflected that mental health was handled in a very similar way. “This offers an unparalleled opportunity for our nations to learn from each other, work together to implement effective programs and stand in support of each other as we tackle problems of mental health,” he said.
Dr. Murthy also visited NIMHANS representatives to discuss ongoing collaborative research projects which are presently under way and financed by different US health agencies. “They are proud of the efforts currently under way and look forward to future ventures, regarding them as useful opportunities to learn from each other, he said.
He further highlighted some critical factors as the cause of the mental health crisis among youths, such as loneliness, adverse effects of social media, and the crushing academic load. According to him, open discussions about mental health, once taboo, would only take people so far to seek help.
Dr. Murthy demanded a twin approach toward treatment as well as prevention. He said that access to mental health care is still an issue the world faces. He discussed legislative modifications so that safety in social media becomes all the more ensured, for they have a lot more impact on young minds. “We must collectively explore how to better protect our children in this digital age,” he concluded.
Read More: Click Here
