Student – Hi Lama la, I am saddened to read about the rise in mental health and drug issues in the world. Unlike physical illnesses, which usually receive support and understanding, mental health challenges often provoke fear and stigma, causing shame for both the individual and their family. How can we, as individuals, better support those facing mental health struggles, and as a society, what steps can we take to address the growing number of cases? Thank you.
Master – There are a number of factors that can drive increases in mental health disorders and drug abuse issues, and while creating robust support systems and treatment facilities for those facing depression, behavioural disorders, anxiety, and addiction is essential, addressing the root causes is equally, if not more, critical.
If we do not recognise and confront these underlying factors, we may not be directly fuelling the crisis, but we’ll definitely fail to prevent it, leaving countless individuals with no choice but to seek help only once they’re already in distress.
From my experience working with individuals grappling with addiction, I’ve noted that the vast majority suffer from depression, anxiety, and emotional distress as a result of early-life trauma. In such cases, substance use often becomes a coping mechanism — a way to escape inner turmoil.
However, while drugs and alcohol may offer temporary relief, their prolonged use actually exacerbates the very issues they seek to avoid — deepening anxiety and depression. In the end, the abuser is left battling with both their initial struggles and the compounded burden of addiction.
Ideally, of course, young people should seek professional help rather than turn to drugs. But how many teens or even young adults, especially those with limited exposure, are able to recognise their emotional confusion as anxiety or depression, and then confidently walk into a psychiatrist’s office to seek help? More often than not, they won’t make the connection between their inner turmoil and mental health — let alone feel comfortable confronting the stigma that still surrounds seeking treatment.
And, unless their parents have some awareness of mental illness, they are unlikely to offer the support their child needs. Instead, they might misinterpret the symptoms as laziness or weakness, which only serves to further isolate the young person from the help they truly need.
In that void, drugs offer an easy — though ultimately ineffective — escape from the pain, while other substance abusers become a kind of support system: a fellowship bound by shared confusion and unspoken understanding.
If a young person is caught with only enough hash or SP for a day or two of personal use, they face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison. For someone already vulnerable, such an experience can be mentally and emotionally devastating. Unlike rehabilitation, which guides them towards healing and reintegration, offering them the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to society, incarceration often worsens their distress, reinforcing cycles of addiction and despair.
Furthermore, across many countries, statistics indicate that relapse rates after incarceration range from 72% to 85%, depending on the substance. In many cases, individuals return to criminal activity as a means of sustaining their addiction. These figures are concerning and warrant thoughtful consideration.
In reality, we humans have a tendency to rush to judgement, unaware of the suffering and complexity behind someone’s substance use or mental health challenges, while also forgetting that none of us truly knows how we would respond to overwhelming stress and mental pain. Many of us may sink into depression, grapple with anxiety, or even turn to substances or alcohol to cope. What those facing these battles need most is understanding and support, not scorn and exclusion.
We also need to understand the difference between interfering and offering help. If we see a relative’s or neighbour’s child in distress — emotionally struggling or perhaps using substances — it’s important to alert their parents or an older sibling. Some may react defensively, but the focus should be on helping someone in need, not on our own discomfort.
With empathy and tact, we can share our concerns in a way others are more likely to accept. After all, if it were our own child in trouble, wouldn’t we want to know before things spiral out of control — no matter how difficult the truth might be to hear?
We need to recognise that as a family and a community, we are deeply interconnected. Just as the human body becomes weak or ill when its organs fail to work in harmony, our community and society, which we should remember includes each of us, will struggle if we don’t cooperate and support one another.
As for society, it’s important that the relevant authorities and CSOs come together to educate the public to recognise the signs of mental illness and to help them be aware of the support available. It would also be beneficial if they could create platforms for individuals to share their mental health stories through various media, helping to humanise these struggles and break the stigma, which is one of the biggest barriers to seeking help.
Parents must also recognise the critical role that a caring and stable environment plays in a child’s development. As the highly esteemed addiction expert Dr Gabor Maté explains, all forms of addiction, whether to work, shopping, gambling, sex, pornography, or drugs, can be traced back to some kind of early childhood trauma.
That’s why behaviours such as coming home drunk, engaging in violence, having loud, heated arguments, affairs, or leaving a child behind to work overseas aren’t minor missteps. They are deeply harmful actions that can leave lasting emotional scars on a child, greatly increasing their risk of future struggles, including addiction.
Traditionally, life skills were passed down by grandparents or village elders, but this guidance was often rooted in simpler, more traditional ways of living. It never evolved to address the complexities of modern life, especially in rapidly changing urban environments.
The education system can play a crucial role in bridging this gap — offering not just academic instruction, but also essential life guidance. While subjects like science, maths, and geography prepare young people for the job market, they fail to equip them with the knowledge and wisdom needed for responsible parenting.
A well-rounded life skills class could help teens develop the understanding and empathy required to meet a future offspring’s emotional needs — emphasising that food, clothing, and shelter alone are not enough for a child’s overall well-being.
In conclusion, Buddhism teaches that nothing arises from a single cause — just as weeds require not only seeds to grow, but also soil, sunlight, and moisture, widespread mental health issues and related drug problems arise from a complex interplay of familial and societal conditions.
Addressing these challenges effectively, therefore, calls for a comprehensive approach and the coordinated efforts of CSOs, government bodies, families, and communities.
With the focused leadership of the Pema Secretariat, I am confident these groups can unite to serve the greater good, tackling mental health and addiction issues with wisdom, compassion and resolve. So, don’t despair. The matter is under active consideration, and with continued commitment, meaningful progress is definitely achievable.
