Mental Health is psychological, physical and social well being. A mentally healthy individual can cope with day to day problems of life, is involved in social activities and leads a contented life. Since the dawn of the civilization, man has been striving for happiness. Why only man every living creature seeks the same? Animal, birds and aquatic living beings have limited desire for food and shelter, and they live in their natural habitat. Man has not only lost connect with nature but has destroyed the natural habitat of other living creature. Due to scientific discovery and invention, human life has become comfortable and enjoyable as never before. However, there is no proportional increase in his happiness. Man is in misery because he clings to the hedonistic viewpoint that seeking pleasure and avoiding suffering is the only component of well being.
Since centuries, man has been devastating the environment which has lead to the collapse of bio-diversity, eco-system, increase carbon-di-oxide level and global warming. Deforestation has led to jumping of virus from animal to man and disappearance of species. Scientists estimate that more than 150 to 200 species of plants, insects, birds and mammals are becoming extinct every 24 hours. More than 200 million animals are slaughtered around the world, if we include the farm fish and other animals, a total of 3 billion animals are killed daily for food. Nearly 300 wild sea animals are massacred every year to feed one American. Holly hymn enshrined in Shree Guru Granth Sahib ji reads “Awar Jon Teri Panhari// Is Dharti Mahe Teri Sikdari //” (SGGS, 373) means all other living creatures are your servant. In this world, you are the ruler. Man, the ruler of the earth is responsible for these startling figures.
Bhutan is a tiny country with population of 7 lakh people. It has extra ordinary achievements in the realm of Environment. It is the only country in the world which is Carbon negative. It removes more than it produces because 60% of its land is covered by jungles. It is the country, where illegal to kill any living creature and also tobacco is banned here. It lays more importance to GNH (Gross National Happiness) than GDP (Gross Domestic Product it is constitutional obligation for everyone to protect the environments. Bhutan is the happiest and one of the greenest country in the world.
COVID-19 pandemic has taken a heavy toll on human life. Large number of people is exhibiting evidence of stress, anxiety and depression. Suicide and relapse rate of patient suffering from mental illnesses have increased. Multiple factors have affected the mental health of the population. Confinement due to lock down, loneliness, lack of social interaction, financial difficulty, unemployment, lack of exposure to sun light and fear of exposure to Corona virus infection. There is unusual spurt of domestic violence faced by women. So much so that the United Nations Organisation’s Chief Antonio Guterres has addressed this problem and called for the protection of the women.
More than 300 studies done in different continents and oceans of the world and reported in the Science Magazine during the lock down period reveal beneficial effect on wild life. The species like mammal, reptiles, birds and fish displayed less fear and stress. Due to the lock down, human movement and activity decreased considerably throughout the world and the wild life breathed easier. Pollution level declined.
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In the book titled “Our Only Home” by the Dalai Lama and Franz Alt, a German Environmentalist deal with the climate change. The author’s advocate holistic education to create awareness of inter-relatedness and inter-dependence of life with scientific value based learning. The authors observe – ‘The Earth is our home and it is on fire, it is common sense to take necessary steps to put out the fire. We did not. The nature has hit the anthropause button’.
Let us heed the message COVID-19 Pandemic and tiny Bhutan, are sending to the world.
I. The ‘Ashraf Mukhliquat’ which means the human being, the crown creation of nature has to be more humane towards animals and wild life. It may require modifications of his life style and to step out of his comfort zones.
II. All the nations of the world need to follow the noble example of Bhutan and to put in coordinated effort to reduce the green house gases. The countries should give priority to contemplate on the choice of ‘Human development Versus environmental degradation’.
III. Lastly, teaching be imparted through holistic education which includes a blend of scientific learning and human values. These measures are of paramount importance to prevent further Tsunamis, Hurricane and Pandemics on this Planet.
In this connection, let us remember Dr. Albert Schweitzer, a Nobel Laureate for ‘Reverence for life’ who said……..
[Quote] “As long as we do not exercise kindness to living creature, we cannot ask for world peace.” [Unquote]
` (Dr. Albert Schweitzer)