7th April is celebrated as world health day since 1950 after introducing it at the First Health Assembly in 1948. This day is celebrated to spread awareness about maternal and childcare, women health, mental health and many other diseases. Health has to be everyone’s topmost priority.
“Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the greatest relationship”.
— Buddha
I thought of focusing on top 5 aspects, we all must take care about our health. So here you go:
- Mental health is one of those biggest taboos, which still people don’t talk about. Those who express their mental health issues are being judged and criticised at some point or the other. But experts say that humans should deal with physical and mental health equally. Instead of judging and shaming them, we must offer a helping hand to them. That’s why I try to offer some help to people I know by listening to their mental health issues. You can do it too.
2. I have also witnessed that, we at times shame the new parents by shaming them for lack of knowledge. Childcare is not an easy thing. For some people, it takes years. And not to forget the postpartum depression and anxiety a woman goes through after delivering her baby. She may not know the do’s and don’t’s. Let’s not shame the new parents.
3. Another taboo is women health. We are still not comfortable talking about women health, specially, menstruation. Many people still blame the women for giving birth to girl children. Still thousands of people aren’t aware that women are not responsible for the sex determination of the babies, which eventually comes from men.
4. Men health is a taboo too. Women at least, still can discuss among their female friends for some suggestions, but men can’t. When men express health issues, most of the times they male friends bully them and make fun of them. But a simple suggestion or guidance can truly help the anxious person.
5. Another health taboo I observed in the past few years is weight management. People bully people based on their body weight. Someone is thin, someone is overweight. We are never satisfied with anything, and we need to express an unwanted opinion any time and every time. Is it healthy? Well, I don’t think so. Even if some of us are satisfied with our body weight and shape, we don’t let them be satisfied. We keep on pinpointing them and keep saying that they are unhealthy. I remember, one of my old colleagues used to be thin. Some of our colleagues used to grill her saying that she won’t be able to conceive as she is very thin. Interestingly, she got married later and delivered a healthy baby girl.
There are many taboos around us, and we don’t have enough of awareness. We keep talking about big research studies and innovations, but we are still lacking behind for very basic health related information. We still deny accepting the way universe created all the animals (humans too). We aren’t above the universe, we are mere creatures. The only good thing we can do is to provide a helping hand to the troubled souls.