Surviving Stress, Depression and Suicidal Thoughts: Lessons from The Mahabharata

Stress and depression have become a key concern in today’s world. “An estimated 3.8% of the global population experience depression” (Global Health Data). Depression and its psychological ramifications have badly affected people in India. Cases of stress, anxiety and depression are rising alarmingly, even more acutely in post-covid scenario. “Physical and mental illness, disturbed interpersonal relationships and economic difficulties” (Vijayakumar 291), unemployment and lack of access to education and healthcare are some of the main causes of stress and depression for Indians. The instances of suicide, resulting from depression, have become grave concerns that need an urgent attention. Now a days, mental health awareness is raised among Indians. Medical intervention and counselling are the felt need of the hour. In this context, The Mahabharata, in which “every conceivable human emotion” (Debroy xxxi) gets figured, happens to fill the void. The epic features innumerable instances of stress, depression and suicidal thoughts that affect the characters. Furthermore, it throws light on various coping mechanisms. This paper attempts to discuss how the epic represents stress, depression and suicidal thoughts. It will explore how the epic hints out ways to overcome such challenging mental situations, thus claiming its influence on mental health treatment in even today.