Mental illness in city dwellers which has emerged as a major problem can be treated to an extent through yoga, say experts.
Though mental illness, as such, cannot be directly treated through yoga, stress, which one of the major causes, said mental health expert Prakriti Poddar in a telephonic interview.
She said that Yoga asanas like Surya Namaskar, Warrior Pose, Tad Asana, Trikonasana and Pranayam could help a person cope with depression and stress.
Poddar said that migration of work force from rural to urban areas also triggered depression.
She said there are studies on stress due to different kind of struggles one has to face due to the migration. This includes financial, emotional and physical stress.
She further said that most companies are now incorporating a well-being programme to provide a holistic approach towards the well being of employees.
“Yoga has become a part of corporate wellness programs and has huge benefits for the employees as it lowers stress levels, relaxes the mind, makes the body flexible and invites an overall feeling of well-being. This improves the performance of the employee and promotes a sense of friendship,” she said.
Children can also be taught yoga form a young age to help them cope with pressures, personal and professional, when they attain adulthood.
According to various studies, around 14 per cent of the global burden of disease is attributed to neuropsychiatric disorders.
Mental health literacy among adolescents is very low and only 29 per cent could identify depression while others remained unaware of the problem.
Parental disharmony, peer pressure and examination stress can trigger off depression in children. (IANS)
