Loss of traditional, moral values contributing to mental health issues in Nagaland: Expert

Mongsentong Longkumer
Dimapur | July 11

Mental health and its underlying conditions are fairly based on a number of external and internal factors. In Nagaland, as conversations around the issue take place in public and private spaces, The Morung Express, reached out to some individuals who have been dealing with mental health over the years.

In the second of a three-part series, Dr P Ngullie, a retired government medical officer and member of the Nagaland Medical Council (NMC), underlined that some of the main contributors of mental health issues in the state ranged from changing lifestyles, lack of moral and traditional values and living in a political conflict area.

At the outset, he explained that mental health conditions are divided into severe mental disorders/psychosis (schizophrenia) and minor mental disorders/neurosis which include anxiety, depression and excessive stress. Most people today suffer from the latter, he opined.

Modernity vs Tradition
For Dr Ngullie, the crux of the matter lies in the undervaluing of traditional norms and customs while changing lifestyles and exposure to the outside world are other possible factors for increase in mental health problems.

“Our brains have not fully adjusted to the demands of living in a modern world,” he observed.

All these issues and problems are caused due to the degradation of our value system, Dr Ngullie opined. “In the sense that, in the older generation the things they valued were in terms of honesty, truthfulness and hard-work. But as these things are undervalued today, it can have a detrimental impact on our mental health,” he elaborated.

“Values are something which gives you stability and meaning in your life. Once we degrade these values it can drastically impact our mental health,” he added.

He further cited that even in Christianity, the Ten Commandments would qualify as a form of taboos; similar to how Nagas’ ancestors practiced it in the past.

However, as society has failed to live up to these norms as well, it has exacerbated the situation further, he noted, further advocating the need to have some anchor in our lives.

Absence of purpose and meaning
Additionally, Dr Ngullie mentioned that lack of life’s purpose or meaning can also make young people “definitely vulnerable” to have mental health problems.

“Frustrations over lack of employment opportunities can lead to other factors such as aggression and violence,” he said.

Not providing the opportunities for young people to contribute back to the society could make things worse, he added.
Dr Ngullie further stressed that going back to one’s root and having strong foundational principles can help overcome these obstacles.

State needs proper medical institutions, scientific study
As mental health encompasses various aspects of human health, similarly its consequential effects are widespread and require thorough study.

However, data collection and scientific study are minimal to non-existent in the State due to lack of financial support and proper medical institutions.

“Most of these studies are possible only when you have a proper institute like a medical college. When you have a medical college, you get research funding which is required to carry out the research studies,” Dr Ngullie explained.

Lack of a proper medical college has prevented the conduct of local research study among the general population of the State, he said.

However, he mentioned that some research studies were conducted in the past through other state institutions like the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) in Dibrugarh.

Besides, the medical community relies on studies conducted by the World Health Organisation and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

“I really look forward to the medical college coming up. Once it gets set up, it will provide research funding,” he stated.

Political conflict and mental health
Apart from above the aforesaid factors, Dr Ngullie noted that conflict can give rise to mental health disorders as well.

“We came across a lot of individuals who had gone through Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSDs). Particularly as we did certain studies on the Oinam incident (July 9, 1987) and the Mokokchung incident (December 27, 1994), it brought about awareness to our people about PTSDs,” he revealed.

Victims of rape, torture and physical abuse are most prone towards suffering from PTSDs in this area.

Stating that this can result in factors such as social stigma and lack of community support for the victims, he called for further social discussions and public debates on the issues.

“We need to study the existing realities such as social values; political conflict and all these issues which could lead to vulnerable people to succumb to the illness,” he concluded.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/loss-of-traditional-moral-values-contributing-to-mental-health-issues-in-nagaland-expert