We are all special in our own ways...

       A healthy mind and a healthy soul

“What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, more unashamed conversation” - Glenn Close

"College is easy. You just need to go with the flow." said no one ever. Even if someone said this, he or she is probably talking about one of those Karan Johar's fantastically imagined colleges, where everyone looks their best every day and is in a jolly mood almost all the time.

While it certainly varies from person to person, there is a common agreement that college does take a toll on one's mental health.

Today, mental health is much openly talked about and people going through mental health issues are not deemed crazy by the general society as was the case not long ago.

The transition to college proves to be quite tough for many; packing bags, waving goodbye to the comforts of home and heading towards an entirely new city. It is as terrifying as it seems to be exciting. Adjusting to the new atmosphere, the food, the weather, the people, can negatively affect the individuals who were recently just toying with different career options and were unsure whether they wanted to take admission in that college in the first place. When it comes to face the reality and they enter the college premises for the first time, that day proves to be a day when they are officially out of their parents’ hands and a ton of other insecurities present in themselves. To knock them out of the park would then seem something desirable and even necessary. But what is less known is that it is totally acceptable to not deal with it at all.

College can be overwhelming with its overly packed schedule, societies, internships and other things. Also seeing other seemingly smarter students, there is always a tendency to compare, which again is unhealthy for obvious reasons. People may not always be kind to you. Nonetheless, among other things, you should always remember to be kind to yourself.  An opportunity to develop a strong personality and keep improving knocks every day at your door, you just need to grab it. College is a place that can break or make people; you have to be wise enough to choose the latter. Make it a place that brings out the best in you. Make new friends and acquaintances. Go out and explore the new city and blend in with the culture if that suits you.

                             

Different people deal with mental health issues in different ways. Here are some ways to cope with college stress-

• Find your stress buster. Do things that make you happy. If it's an elaborate skin care routine or a dance routine, do it once in a while and go back to your roots.

• Find an interest. Develop a new skill. This, well, keeps you engaged and also, you never know if you can find your inner calling right there.

• Talk to a friend. It is always a great comfort to have that long deep conversation with your best friend or anyone for that matter.

• Ask for help. There is nothing wrong in seeking help. But it is wrong to hide away your mental health issues for you think it is no one's concern. Let me break this to you, it is everyone's concern - everyone who loves you and cares for you.

• Exercise and Eat healthy. Trust me, it feels good. And it won't hurt to do this much for your body.

Sometimes, in college when things become a little too overbearing, and without your parents' constant nagging for you to go outside, you tend to take shelter under your shell. If it hasn't come to you yet, here is a reminder that only you know what works for you and only you have complete control over your well-being. The best thing you can do is be proactive about your mental health. College is but a sneak peek into the harsher and more competitive world. One has to learn how to cope and find the right balance. We all do. And we will get through it, stronger and better.

CURATED BY: SIMRAN KAUR (NET IMPACT MEMBER)

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Is India safe?

India: An Unsafe Haven

How many times have you caught someone flashing at you or maybe masturbating at you? How many times have you averted your gaze knowing that nothing can be done about it? How many times have you seen other people watching the same scenario and not doing anything regarding the same?

In a country like ours, masturbation and other sexual acts are frowned upon. Even after multiple heated debates and extensive discussions, topics like sex education are talked about without actually using the words “penis” and “vagina”. It gives rise to issues like public masturbation, which is not given much importance.

 In a world where we are asking the women to use public transports so that they can be tracked; crimes like public masturbation has left no place unaffected whether it is public buses or cabs. Cases of public masturbation can be filed under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deals with “assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty”, Section 509 which deals with “gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman”, and/or Section 268, which handles cases of public nuisance.

But no particular provision in India makes public masturbation illegal.

A couple of years ago, a case came up of an Uber car driver staring at a woman  and stroking himself while driving her to the airport.Instead of feeling ashamed , he asked her “what was wrong?” as if he didn’t know anything.But what do the perpetrators get from this? According to Rashi Vidyasagar, a criminologist, picking up on strangers makes it easier for these men. She believes that there is some sort of voyeurism working in these cases.

According to Dr.Rajan Bhonsle, Head, Sexual Medicine, KEM Hospital, “A lot of public masturbators may suffer from paraphilia — a condition where one has fetishes towards unusual objects or phenomenon. Voyeurism is just one of them. It’s not a disease as much as it is an uncontrollable fetish. Everyone has fetishes but for public masturbators, their fetish harms the object of their fetish: The difference being; acting on the former is consensual, while the latter isn't.

There is a fair chance that these men perform these acts at places where they know that the victims of this victimless crime would not be able to shout or reach out for help. This is the reason why public places are the best places as no one really calls out to these acts which are not legally, but morally unacceptable.

Countries like the UK and Indonesia have made this illegal, thereby imprisoning the person for 14 and 32 days respectively.

Another huge problem faced today is Revenge Porn. Revenge porn has been defined as “the sharing of private, sexual materials; either photos or videos, of another person without their consent with the purpose of causing embarrassment or distress.” Many times the name and other photographs have also been shared so that the victim can be recognised and be shamed.  The cases of revenge porn have been rising in India with the victims being both men and women. Women are particularly targeted as sexual activity on their part is still thought of as something which defines their 'honour'. This combination can leave a person feeling vulnerable and could possibly put them in danger. At minimum, it is psychologically damaging to the victim. The biggest reason behind this is the feeling of being dejected and the fear and embarrassment caused to the person who is on the receiving end of such emotional turmoil. This is usually done in order to take revenge so that the other person feels guilty about his/her actions.

In India, there are no strict laws against revenge porn although more and more people are aware of this. This usually comes under the Information Technology Act, 2000. Cyber safety is very important not only in the case of financial losses but also these things.The issue of public masturbation and revenge porn needs to be talked about at a large scale now. Many people side-line this crime by stating that this does not involve any “physical touch” or any “direct communication” with the victim. We need to acknowledge the fact that the world needs to be aware of the crimes that engulf the people and especially women of this world and work to eradicate them. There need to be stringent laws against such crimes so that the perpetrators dread them and never repeat them.

CURATED BY: KHYATI SHRESTHA (NET IMPACT MEMBER)