Yoga can help in tackling mental health issues: Experts

NEW DELHI: As the world gears up to celebrate 'International Yoga Day' on June 21, experts today said that the ancient Indian practice can be an effective preventing tool for tackling mental health issues in the country.

"Yoga can be an effective preventive tool in fighting stress and other mental health concerns. And, while yoga may not be an alternate to medical intervention it can be beneficial as an adjunct to mainline treatment," said Sunil Mittal, a senior psychiatrist at the city-based Cosmos Institute of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences (CIMBS).

"In fact, scientific data indicates that yoga, which enhances resilience and mind-body awareness, improves mental, physical and even intellectual health and can be useful in managing issues like stress, anxiety, depression, post- traumatic stress disorders, mood-related disorders, and even sleep disorders," he added.

Mitali Srivastava, a senior clinical psychologist at the CIMBS said, therapies are beneficial in problem-solving and decision-making strategies, and also help in understanding one's strengths and what's happening to oneself.

"But there are times when one just needs to get moving and work through the body and yoga proves to be quite helpful in this," she said.

According to Amit Gupta, Associate Professor of Surgery at AIIMS, yoga is a need in today's stressful life.

"Yoga plays an important role in today's stressfull life where not everyone is able to stick to a daily regimen of exercise. Simple breath-management techniques can help one release tension.

"Yoga is a science which acts as a natural anti-depressant remedy, thereby boosting mental health. It is a low-cost and an easy alternative to pills and studies have found that practising yoga helps boost up a chemical in the brain that is essential for good mental health. We at AIIMS believe in holistic development of a person," Gupta said.

Naveen Kumar, trustee and psychologist at Manas Foundation, a New Delhi-based registered trust, said, practicing yoga helps to manage stress and not develop maladaptive coping behaviour.

"When one is stressed, the tendency is to get engaged in maladaptive coping behaviour. They resort to drinking, fighting etc. Yoga provides an alternative where you are at more at control of yourself.

Experts say that an estimated one million Indians are in need of mental health service today.