Women's Day 2023: Arushi Sethi, Founder Of Mental Health Counselling Organization Discusses Societal Pressure And Biases Against Women
In the interaction with ABP Live, she discussed the mental health issues in women and how they must believe in themselves, and listen to their inner thoughts as women are unstoppable.
New Delhi: Every year on March 8, people around the world observe International Women's Day to honour the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It serves as a day to promote women's rights and empowerment and to increase awareness of the challenges women still encounter in their pursuit of gender equality.
On this occasion, ABP Live interacted with Arushi Sethi, the founder and CEO of Trijog- a counselling and mental health organization.
Speaking of Arushi, she is a 28-year-old woman who has been the face of various campaigns and the torchbearer for mental healthcare. Additionally, she has been on a journey to break the silence and has taken part, curated, led, and appeared at various prestigious conferences, panels, and institutions. In the interaction with ABP Live, she discussed the mental health issues in women and how they must believe in themselves, and listen to their inner thoughts, as women are unstoppable.
Mental Health Issues In Women:
Talking about mental health issues in women, Arushi told, "Looking at mental health as a whole, we can say that everybody has mental health. You have a mind, so you have mental health. We all are on the same page. All individuals have mental health, whether you're a man or a woman, or whether you identify with the LGBTQIA community."
"As far as mental health issues in a woman are concerned, they could range in a whole spectrum. They could be personal, professional, family-centric, or sales, and there's a mix of anxiety, high levels of stress, and low mood. A lot of times, mental health issues in women are also triggered because of the hormonal discharges that go through their body.", she added.
Societal Pressure And Biases Against Women:
Arushi also shared how societal pressure and age-old biases against women have affected their mental health. She said, "Nowadays, we are all in a race to lead an ideal life. So I think societal pressures are very real and they could include biases that people hold against women."
Speaking about an experiment they were doing a few days back, she said, "There's a very interesting experiment we were doing with one of our corporates the other day. We were working on biases. And we showed this picture of women in just sarees. They were like, five, seven women together in sarees, and then having a conversation. We asked the question, what is the first thing that comes into your head when you look at this picture?"
"And people said they are at the railway stations or, they seem like some office goers. Some people said that they feel like the women are looking for something. Adding to it, other people said, 'Oh, this looks like they would be at a wedding celebration.' But, in reality, those were the women who have been the first scientists who have taken us to space.", she further continued.
Arushi also said, "Our society is full of biases. And that's something that women always have to grow with. And another thing that I think, you know, the rules, and stereotypes, which have suppressed the woman's voice for a very long time and we have been silent for so many years. Now that we are allowed to speak out and empower, we're going to feel a predetermined role. So society also, I think, contributed greatly to shaping beliefs, shaping behaviours, which eventually shape habits."
Doing What Your Inner Self Asks You To:
Arushi also discussed how an average Indian woman has to do her household chores, be available for all the members of her family and also work at the same time, even if she doesn't feel like doing any of it for a day and just wants to sit back and relax. She said, "I think we all as individuals, and especially women need to start doing what our inner self is telling us about it is so important to start listening to the inner voice and not refuting it."
"Two words- authentic and unapologetic.", she further continued by saying why women should be authentic and unapologetic to what their inner self asks them to do. "Yes. I want women to believe in their own authenticity. Ask yourself, who am I? What do I want? And these answers are going to be different for every woman, but understand your truth. What is your answer? And what do you want to make of your truth and do about your truth?"
She also added, "If you're feeling really, really tired, have a conversation with your own self, because it is only yourself and your own mind and your own thoughts that you need to use at the end of the day. There could be repercussions, but if this is going to make you feel better, do it. So authentic, and second, unapologetic. I want all of us to understand that we need to feel unapologetic, we need to remove the guilt and be alive because the guilt is created by societal factors or by what the norm is supposed to be."
In the end, Arushi shared what women's day meant to her, saying, "For me, every day is women's day. And for me personally, every day I live my reality of being a creator- unstoppable! Because a woman can do it all."
She also shared a message for all the women and said, "There are two things that I would like to tell the women out there- Be you! Authentically, fiercely and unapologetically. If you start emulating this behaviour, you are after lifting the sigma, you are active, and you are congruent. And I think we need to do this for ourselves because you are worth all of it. And more
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