A public awareness workshop on the theme “Mental Health and Stress Management” was organised at the Harshvardhan Auditorium of the Haryana Police Academy (HPA), Madhuban. Dr Saubhagya S. Kaushik, nodal officer at Civil Hospital, Karnal, was the chief guest and conducted a meditation session for the participants.
Before beginning her address, Dr Kaushik expressed gratitude to Kala Ramachandran, Director, HPA, for organising the awareness programme. Addressing the participants, she said good health implied a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. She added that good mental health enabled individuals to make sound decisions, maintain healthy relationships, face challenges effectively and lead a balanced life.
She said stress had become an increasingly common problem in today’s fast-paced lifestyle, with one in every eight people suffering from stress-related issues. Academic pressure, job-related concerns, family issues and financial difficulties were among the major causes of stress, she said.
Dr Kaushik said a moderate level of stress could act as a source of motivation and lead to positive outcomes. However, prolonged stress adversely affected both mental and physical health, resulting in issues such as insomnia, irritability, anxiety, depression, high blood pressure and reduced work efficiency.
She advised participants to engage in regular exercise and yoga to maintain good mental health. She also emphasised the importance of practising meditation or deep-breathing exercises daily, getting adequate sleep, consuming a balanced and nutritious diet, spending quality time with family and friends, and sharing emotions openly.
She further stressed the need for effective time management, prioritising tasks and maintaining a balanced use of mobile phones and social media. She urged participants not to hesitate in seeking professional help from qualified mental health experts if stress or other mental health concerns persisted for a prolonged period.
