The issue of mental health is vital for human wellbeing but its understanding is shallow; so is the subject research which is often wide of the mark
The spine-chilling dialogue “Yeh suicide nahin murder hai sir” in a Bollywood movie is still fresh in our minds and getting renewed from time to time. The scene of the movie argues to combat mental health issues in the academic atmosphere. The character RANCHO was right on the silver screen and still, the relevance of the dialogue is contemporary, appalling, and justifying. One of the ways to curb the menace of mental health issues is to foster robust academic research. Academic research promotes learning by highlighting the key issues of society. However, the dearth of such research across the globe remains a stark reality. The apathy of academic probes toward the issue has not been duly addressed. The precarious condition of research continues unabated. Over the years, scholarly studies on mental health have been hanging in balance. However, some of the researchers also think that their area of research is vibrant and should have more investment from various facets.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that in 2019, 1 in every 8 people, or 970 million people around the world were living with a mental disorder, anxiety, and depressive disorders. However, in 2020, the number of people living with anxiety and depressive disorders rose significantly, thanks to the arrival of COVID-19 pandemic, which has brought unprecedented and uncalculated damage to humankind. Caring mental does not remain in silos, rather international bodies like the United Nations are striving for this cause.
In a globalised world, the role of scientific explorations in an academic institution is known for their sustainability and development. It is imperative to foster such knowledge-driven growth based on innovation. The quest for knowledge is the driving principle behind conducting any sort of research. The quality of research work directly translates into the quality of teaching and learning process in the classroom, which further benefit the students, the society and the country as well. When any academic research is contested to contribute to the domain of mental health and well-being, the process of research and publication comes to the fore.
To several researchers’ perspectives, the scholarly studies on mental health in the space of research remain shoddy and slow-paced, and have been grappling with certain issues. It is not confined to any country; rather such academic blight has contaminated the academic fraternity on a global scale. The scientific probe or research process is plagued with short-comings starting from literature review to publication. Literature review has its own standing in the process of scholarly research. However, several scholars are facing numerous problems as the existing literature is not adequate from various dimensions.
When it comes to research methodology, data collection on the topic is not logical due to certain structural bottlenecks. Mostly, studies have been conducted in quantitative approach, and the robust qualitative approach to the topic is de-emphasized.
Developing countries do not have adequate publication scopes compared to developed countries. Many interdisciplinary journals in developing countries are not paying minimum heed to the issues of mental health. There is all time scarcity of reviewers. Again, potential reviewers are not available in the domain.
Factors like a dearth of skilled research supervisors in a particular area remain a stumbling block in the process of academic research. Some of the scholars are not nuanced with the impact of new technologies like artificial intelligence on the subject of mental health and wellness. Conducting quality research requires funding. Academic career structures and the allocation processes for research funding essentially reflect merit-based competition among scholars..
Needless to say, mental health and wellness is a significant area of discussion. The WHO’s clarion call “Make mental health & well-being for all a global priority” for the current year in celebrating World Mental health Day is well-deserving. Prioritizing mental health will be more pragmatic if research and practice go hand in hand, and a holistic approach to mental well-being can be maintained. Entire process of academic research and process ought to be healthy, ethical and spearheaded for greater interest of the human race.
The process of scholarly studies on mental needs to be balanced, ambitious and mindful. Children, gender and geography of mental issues need to addressed. Developing countries should equal publication with that of developed countries. Discussion on policy implications, community-level issues, and multidisciplinary considerations should be encouraged. Integrated care, evidence-based practices, cultural factors, and ethical and regulatory considerations pertaining to mental health need to be deliberated in research. Further, it calls on all the stakeholders to work cohesively to deepen the value and commitment given to mental health, reshape the research environments that influence mental health, and strengthen the systems that care about mental health.
(Biswal is an Associate Professor and Head of the Department, Journalism and Mass Communication. Behura is an Assistant Professor, Gender Studies and officer-in-charge of Counselling & Wellness Centre. Biswal and Behura are working in Rama Devi Women's University, Bhubaneswar. The views expressed are personal)
