Hey city dweller, What’s in the mind? The perils of rapid vanquishing of utility.

October 10th of every year is marked (and marketed) as the World Mental Health Day; in writing this piece, I derive inferences from observations of societies across ‘developed’ countries with a notable difference in the standard of living when compared with the standard of living in many pockets of cities in developing countries. The reading is structured to present the idea of the faster vanquishing of utility and the possible connections to the faster decline of mental resilience, followed by the manner in which these observations can be used to mitigate the problems at a more local level in developing countries.

What is vanquishing utility?

The Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility is the reduction in the happiness derived from the consumption of every extra unit of a good, a service or an experience. When I use the term vanquishing utility, I imply the complete conquering of utility until there’s none left.

For making the case of society in developed nations, I take the example of Singapore- a country with strict laws & regulations, access to a large variety of food, a highly interconnected and efficient transit system, a world class education system, a society that lives in compliance & much more. A country with such a high standard of living has access to consumption with heightened levels of purchasing power, the struggles to acquire are limited. A government with exceptionally qualified individuals creating policies that restrain individual liberties for societal balance leads to a very interesting problem — a large quest for mental balance. A national study has found that 1 in 3 young people aged between 11 and 18 have mental health symptoms. (https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/about-1-in-3-youths-in-singapore-has-mental-health-symptoms-study). In 2023, the Duke-NUS study based on survey data from 5,725 Singaporean adults, seeking to identify those with symptoms of anxiety or depression found that 14 per cent to 15 per cent had symptoms consistent with depression and/or anxiety. The total economic impact is estimated to be $16 billion. (https://www.duke-nus.edu.sg/allnews/in-the-news/shocking-economic-toll-of-mental-illness). One would expect a high negative correlation between GDP growth and the percentage of people facing mental illness — after all, a ‘high standard of living’ should provide for whatever it is that takes care of your mind. However, in Singapore’s case the decline in mental health over the past decade has been staggering.

Over the course of understanding society, the concept of vanquishing utility was born. A country that has access to almost everything is higher up a utility curve, on aggregate. A higher standard of living is accompanied by facets of access that deprives individuals from gradually climbing up the ladder of utility. In a scenario where the five senses seek to inject the mind with happiness, the mind itself is left behind. Once your basic necessities are taken care of with utmost ease, you seek to engage on a higher plateau. Individuals largely look to attain these scales by overlooking the state they are in, the ‘present’ becomes a mere discounting of what the future might hold — while every single need of mankind is met, you are left wanting more. Experiences are what make up life, but experiencing living is completely left behind. At an individual level, these systems seem harmless, but ideologically, the extension of brute-force capitalism leads to a pseudo-higher living standard, and at a societal-level fissures start appearing in the form of a weakened state of mind. In a country with impeccable education and talent, mental health consistently deteriorates. While society thrives in engaging the five senses for pleasure, the mind is squandered away, not nurtured. Nurturing the mind requires consistent engagement with the self, and context, and understanding meanings of existence. Mental health is a consequence of consistent practices that keep an individual aware of his or her place within the tapestry that is woven around him or her.

Acknowledging these problems and giving importance to the profession of mental health has been at the forefront of a lot of public policies in Singapore in the recent past , as evidenced by the formulation of the National Health and Well being strategy. (https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/launch-of-national-mental-health-and-well-being-strategy). A few points outlined in the strategy:

Some key aspects and implications of the National Mental Health and Well-being Strategy include:

1. Promotion of Awareness: The strategy emphasizes the importance of raising public awareness about mental health issues. By promoting awareness, it seeks to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health problems, making it easier for individuals to seek help and support.
2. Early Intervention: The strategy acknowledges the value of early intervention in addressing mental health concerns. It encourages timely identification of mental health issues and the provision of appropriate care and support to prevent problems from escalating.
3. Access to Care: Ensuring that individuals have access to quality mental health care and services is a central focus of the strategy. It aims to enhance the availability and affordability of mental health services, making them more accessible to the population.
4. Integration with Healthcare Services: The strategy seeks to integrate mental health services with primary healthcare, ensuring that mental health is not treated in isolation but as an integral part of overall health and well-being.
5. Community Support: Community-based mental health initiatives and support systems are emphasized. These initiatives aim to build a supportive network that can help individuals with mental health issues in their local communities.
6. Data and Research: The strategy promotes data collection and research in the field of mental health. Gathering data and conducting research can lead to evidence-based practices and a better understanding of the mental health landscape in Singapore.

What can a developing state do?

According to Dr Edmond Fernandes, Director, Edward & Cynthia Institute of Public Health, Mangaluru :

“Human interaction is decreasing and becoming digital. People no longer prefer meeting over coffee, or unwinding over pep talks but prefer to operate out of digitally available resources and this is damaging the human ecosystem very deeply. Humans are programmed to interact, not operate in isolated quarters,” he said

He said there is a need for policy changes to make sure that death by suicide due to mental health is prevented

Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/karnataka-sees-rise-in-suicides-due-to-mental-health-issues-1152457.html

More than a million people sought mental healthcare in public health institutions across Karnataka during 2018–19, and depression and general anxiety disorders constituted 34% of the cases.

In the urban landscape of Bangalore, one of India’s largest and most technologically advanced cities, the perils of mental health have taken on a distinctive and intricate character. Bangalore’s rapid urbanization, accompanied by increased socio-economic disparities, has amplified the stressors experienced by its inhabitants. The city’s population explosion, coupled with the perpetual influx of individuals seeking opportunities, has intensified the competition for limited resources and elevated the prevalence of psychological distress. The highly competitive job market, the pursuit of professional success, and the pressures of modern urban living have contributed to elevated levels of anxiety, depression, and burnout among its residents. The academic and corporate ambitions that draw multitudes to Bangalore may inadvertently render individuals vulnerable to the perils of work-related stress and inadequate work-life balance.Moreover, the challenges to mental health in Bangalore are compounded by environmental factors. The city’s infrastructure strain, exacerbated by unrelenting traffic congestion and air pollution, subjects its inhabitants to the detrimental consequences of urban living.

What are the policy interventions that could change ‘minds’ ?

In trying to tackle the current state of mental health in Karnataka, we take a leaf out of the policy playbook of Singapore. In order to avoid the possible economic losses due to mental health and retain productivity levels, an early intervention is one of the ways forward. While economic growth cannot be curtailed easily and standards of living will continue to rise, a focus on handling these systems can instill a sense of discipline within the consumer of goods and services.

1. We start with identifying the age groups that require intervention, and create community healthcare centers. Developing cities are hotbeds of mental health issues and access to luxury and the want for higher levels of utility without control might lead to a sense of haplessness. Intervention at the right time will enable the propagation of consistent conversation and normalization at a community level.
2. Increase in the number of institutes that train counselors would ensure that the system does not get overwhelmed.
3. Although many private educational institutions do have mental health professionals, the public ones do not have the capacity to engage with these counselors ; could the state find a way? Would the budgetary allocations allow for the placement of counselors at these institutions?

The soaring recognition of mental health as an essential facet of our well-being marks a monumental societal shift. In a world where the significance of mental health is steadily ascending, we stand at the precipice of a profound transformation. The upsurge in awareness, the formulation of supportive policies, and the de-stigmatization of mental health issues underscore a collective commitment to nurturing the psychological and emotional well-being of individuals. As we continue this journey, let it be a resounding declaration that mental health matters, and its uprise is not merely a trend but a steadfast testament to our shared humanity.