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Mental Health at BITS

Introduction 

The number of mental health issues has risen significantly over the last few years. The pandemic has exacerbated this crisis. The English Press Club conducted a mental health survey among the students of Pilani campus. The survey had 663 respondents.

These figures further reflect the poor state of mental health among BITSians of the Pilani campus.

Through this article, the EPC aims to understand the extent of mental health issues faced by BITSians, find out more about the facilities available at their disposal, and outline how effective students deem these facilities to be.

Mental Health Facilities

Project Sahaaya, BITSAA

Project Sahaaya is a mental health and wellness support system launched by the BITS Pilani Alumni Association (BITSAA). The EPC interviewed Divya Nawale (2003A4PS297P),  founder and Project Lead of the BITSAA Sahaaya initiative, to understand the motivation behind this initiative and find out more about the various activities undertaken by them. 

A depression survivor herself, Divya recounted her time as a student at BITS when her depression was misdiagnosed as migraine. More than a decade later—while pursuing her master’s at the University of Pittsburg—she experienced panic and anxiety-related symptoms again. She sought counselling and therapy and was correctly diagnosed for the first time. According to Divya, the normalisation of mental health issues in the USA made it easy for her to seek help. 

In 2019, she was invited to deliver a talk at BITS Hyderabad. While interacting with the faculty, she realised that many students at BITS suffer from mental health issues. With the help of Prof. Kannan Ramaswamy (faculty of the Hyderabad campus), BITS Embryo, BITSMUN, and other student organisations, she conducted a cross-campus survey to understand mental health issues prevalent among students. She presented the data collected through the survey to BITSAA. As a result of overwhelming support from the BITSAA Chairman and other board members, Project Sahaaya was launched on October 10, 2020.

Project Sahaaya currently offers services to all students and alumni of BITS Pilani, although they admit that their services for students are strongly dependent on the support they receive from campus authorities. The team consists of alumni, student volunteers, and mental health experts. The major tools used by them to raise awareness include:

  1. Monthly webinars on mental health with the objective of normalising mental health and dismantle the taboo associated with the subject. 
  2. A moderated blog for depression survivors to share their experiences. 
  3. The BITSAA website with mental health-related resources and services for alumni such as art therapy, dance therapy, and fitness sessions.
  4. Podcasts on the BITSAA YouTube channel.

The current scope of Project Sahaaya is limited to alumni but webinars and podcasts can be viewed by students. Current students who reach out to them are directed to Mpower, where they receive appropriate counselling.

Talking about some of the factors which contributed to her poor mental health at BITS, Divya emphasised the ‘pressure cooker environment’ which is prevalent on campus. Having been a bright student in school, she recalls going through an ‘identity crisis’ after coming to Pilani, where everyone seemed like an overachiever. A majority of students, Divya noted, suffer from job-related anxiety. ‘What you can do is remember that you’re really young; you don’t need to figure [your life plans] out by the time you’re 19 or 20,’ she added. Divya also recommended talking to the Placement Unit to gauge what opportunities one can pursue, as baseless speculation usually ends up triggering anxiety among students. 

In her advice for young people going through mental health issues, Divya stressed the importance of seeking help. Although talking to peers can be comforting, one mustn’t minimise the role played by professionals. On a parting note, Divya highlighted, ‘There is always help from the alumni.’

Project Sahaaya resources:

  1. Webinars: Stress regulation – A Neuroscience Perspective, Building Resilience – Let’s Walk the Talk, Preventative strategies for mental well being 
  2. Blog: Mental health disorders in India, Moving towards a resilient inner self
  3. BITSAA Page: Project Sahaaya
  4. Podcasts: Mental Health from an insider’s perspective, Mad At BITS: An Insider’s Perspective to Student Mental Health

Mpower

Founded by Neerja and Ananya Birla in 2016, Mpower is an organisation that primarily works towards promoting mental well-being and providing quality mental health care facilities. Mpower cells, set up within companies and educational institutions, provide one-on-one counselling and conduct various seminars and workshops to support the members of the institution.

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus houses one such Mpower cell. Started in September 2019, it allows people at BITS Pilani to access free individual counselling and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with a clinical psychologist, as well as consultation with a visiting psychiatrist. They also conduct regular webinars promoting mental wellness and discussing issues of stress and anxiety with medical professionals. Furthermore, they conduct quarterly seminars and workshops like Youth Mental Health First-Aid course (YMHFA) to educate students and staff members about dealing with mental health crises. To find out more about mental health at BITS Pilani, the EPC interviewed the college Mpower cell’s Senior Psychologist, Dr Shikha Joshi Sharma.

Dr Sharma began her practice in Bangalore, where she worked alongside Noitacude Educational Services as a child psychologist in schools. She then worked as a therapist in hospitals before moving to Haryana where she has worked as a Chief Psychologist in nineteen schools. While discussing the role and importance of therapy, she repeatedly stressed the importance of learning how to communicate. She pointed out that while it is ‘okay to not be okay’, it is extremely important to be able to identify when one is struggling and seek help for mental and emotional issues. This help need not just come from a counsellor, but from anyone that the individual feels comfortable opening up to; though she later stressed, during her conversation with the EPC, the importance of seeking professional help if such a situation becomes unmanageable. She went on to mention that the subject of mental health is heavily stigmatised within the Asian community. There seems to be a widespread misconception that those who go to therapy must have serious issues with their brain and are often associated with extreme psychotic disorders. She was quick to clarify that it is effective to seek therapy even for ‘normal’ problems of stress, family conflicts, and relationship issues that may be disrupting one’s daily life.

According to Dr Sharma, being anxious or stressed at times is perfectly normal. However, if these issues begin to disturb routines, sleep or eating habits, cause mood swings, or interfere with one’s ability to function normally, then it is advisable to seek counselling. She emphasised that the psychologist maintains a strict agreement of absolute confidentiality. This policy is extremely reassuring in situations where the patient is dealing with issues that they do not feel comfortable sharing with friends or family and wish to keep private. This confidentiality can only be broken with the consent of the patient in situations where they are at risk, or in danger of putting another individual at risk.

Moving on to the sensitive topic of psychiatric intervention by means of medication, Dr Sharma explained that it may be necessary in situations where the disorder is disabling the patient . If the patient is at a point that they are not mentally or emotionally capable of following the path prescribed by the counsellor, and are not able to improve with willpower alone, medicative measures can be taken for external support. Issues related to external conflicts with family and friends or surrounding academic stress generally do not require medication and may be helped more by therapy alone. She went on to add that in cases of disorders such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, OCD, or psychotic disorders, it is recommended to have a psychiatrist (a medical practitioner who can diagnose and prescribe medication for mental illnesses) working alongside the psychologist.

Often issues like stress caused by academic failures, the hypercompetitive environment, feelings of loneliness, personal losses, and issues with one’s peer group can build up and cause mental turmoil and emotional distress. As a final thought, Dr Sharma reiterated the importance of seeking help when struggling and having an open dialogue about one’s emotions, saying that ‘more than anything else, it helps to talk.’

Mpower Resources:

  1. Free Counselling Helpline Number: (1800)-120820 050 
  2. Contacts for Booking of Online Therapy Appointments: Mr Sachin- 7976887708 sachin.soni@abet.co.in 


Others: Emerson Scott, Facebook Mental Health Support Group

Although Mpower continues to be the most sought-after facility to tackle issues regarding mental health, there are a few other indispensable resources that play a monumental role in helping BITSians. The Academic Counselling Cell (ACC) houses, amongst others, Mr Emerson Noble Scott. He is a motivational speaker and counsellor by profession who follows a methodology which he terms as “connect and care”. An MA in Psychology, he has both delivered and attended numerous seminars related to the field of counselling. He attends to patients of varied backgrounds and age groups.

The BITS Mental Health Support Group (BMHSG) consists of BITSians from various batches who have volunteered to help others in delicate situations. Their discussions range from troubles faced in the online semester to complications in the personal lives of those seeking BMHSG’s support. A closely guarded community with strict joining regulations, the BMHSG aims at providing support and ensuring anonymity as the subjects convey their concerns. Peers, seniors, and juniors pool appropriate resources in order to provide the best possible solution to the problems presented. 

The aforementioned facilities differ in the experience and age of those helping the students who seek their guidance. While Mr Scott is a seasoned counsellor, the BMHSG only consists of students helping each other. Even though they seem to come from opposite ends of a spectrum, they have both contributed to the well-being of students in their respective capacities. 

BMHSG Links: Facebook group, Discord server

Students’ Feedback on Mental Health Facilities 

Out of the 663 students who responded to the EPC’s mental health survey, 64.6% were aware of the mental health facilities available at BITS. However, only 11.8% reported having availed any of these facilities. 

There are numerous mental health facilities available for BITSians—Mpower, counselling sessions with Emerson Scott, BMHSG, and Project Sahaaya. Despite the feedback of some students regarding these services, it is important to note that what might not have worked for one person may work for someone else. Moreover, the authenticity of students’ feedback cannot be verified; the EPC is merely reporting the responses collected through the Google Form. Seeking professional help for mental health concerns is absolutely essential. The EPC categorically disagrees with minimising the effectiveness of a facility based merely on someone else’s experience.  

Mpower

Reviews regarding Mpower’s services were heterogeneous. Some students reported that the counselling was inadequate; they found it to be generic and dismissive of their problems. With at least two students allegedly having been suggested to focus on academics as a solution to their poor mental health, there is a certain level of discontent surrounding Mpower’s counselling services. Some respondents also pointed out how they were subjected to passive and seemingly apathetic counsellors when they called the helpline in a state of mental distress. This necessitates a more efficient and approachable urgent care system. Two students reported how quickly they had been prescribed strong medications which they, on consulting a different psychiatrist, found were not required. Complaints regarding a long waiting time before booking an appointment were also raised.

On the other hand, some students expressed positive reactions to Mpower’s services. While a few praised the counsellors—applauding their empathy and commending their willingness to help students—others were merely glad to have an outlet to vent their emotions. On-campus counselling sessions, in particular, were received well by some respondents who expressed their gratitude to Mpower counsellors for listening to their woes and helping them become mindful of their actions.

Emerson Scott

Students described Emerson Scott’s counselling as quite generic and perhaps slightly sterile. One response indicated that the patient was not able to communicate effectively with the counsellor, while another respondent expressed that they did not find the sessions particularly useful. It seems that the counsellor is prone to giving generalised advice (which could itself be useful for introspection) rather than establishing a good rapport with the individual patient.

BMHSG

As BMHSG encourages discussions between individuals of a similar age group in a similar environment, it is perhaps easier to connect with the members and be understood on such a platform. Often, speaking to someone in a similar situation can be useful for introspection or help in articulating one’s own issues. The feedback received for BMHSG was entirely positive, describing the group as supportive and responsive with suggestions and support that was more detailed and less standard than those received at other mental health facilities. One concern that can be taken into account is that, while the BMHSG can provide support, they are unqualified to offer medical advice or professional treatment. However, appropriate resources and contacts are usually shared on these groups that can help the individual access effective treatment if they require it.

Conclusion 

According to the National Mental Health Survey of India—the largest survey on mental morbidity in India, conducted by NIMHANS—150 million Indians required mental health treatment and support in 2015. Owing to the fact that a sizable number of Indians do not seek help and their mental illnesses go undiagnosed, the real number could be much higher.  

Although mental illnesses are caused by a wide range of genetic, social, environmental, and physical factors, they can be triggered by stress, trauma, and abuse. From our survey, we can infer that a significant number of students at BITS struggle with their mental health. A new-found feeling of inadequacy in a seemingly academically superior community, fuelled by the need to outperform everyone else, is one of the factors which causes anxiety and stress among students. 

The mental stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is not something to be taken lightly; the change in one’s routine, limited social interaction and restricted access to mental healthcare facilities, and generalised fear for the safety of oneself and loved ones, can be a significant cause for distress. This, mingled with the overwhelming academic burden, can be a potentially triggering situation for individuals with underlying mental illnesses. The EPC encourages anybody who is struggling during this time to seek help either from their friends or family or from available external resources.