Arjun Chaudhary, Author at SocioTab

Road Rage - Kannada film actor Chetan Chandra's recent road rage encounter in Karnataka, resulting in injuries, another incident in Bangalore where a cab driver died in his sleep preceded by a road rage incident and several others that are occurring daily around us, are more than what they seem. Tragically, the pattern is being repeated across India, and such incidents are flooding our newspapers and social media which exposes the deteriorating collective mental health of our society. Apart from these big incidents that were covered by mainstream media, we come across fights and arguments on the roads. Every day we are stuck in traffic and sabko kahin jaane ki jaldi hai. Even small things like honking at traffic lights or not being able to give passage to other drivers on a congested road may lead to verbal arguments or worse. With that said, it’s concerning how common these conflicts have become in our lives. But what's more scary is that these incidents have been normalised by us and seeing them happening on roads to others, does not affect us anymore. Whenever we come across such incidents on roads, many of us just laugh saying dekho zara si baat pr lad rahe hain. The rise in aggressive behaviour on the roads isn't just about bad driving or arguments – it's a sign of deeper problems that we need to address seriously. Despite all this, it seems like the government isn't paying enough attention to the root cause of the problem. We're at a point where our desire for economic growth clashes with the urgent need to address mental health issues. Even though we've found vaccines for diseases like COVID-19, there's no quick fix for mental health issues. Sadly, more and more young people are being affected by this silent problem, putting a damper on our dreams of becoming a 5 Trillion Dollar Economy. It makes us think: how can we succeed if our well-being isn't taken care of? ‘FALANE KE LADKE KO DEKHO’ SYNDROME India is largely affected by ‘Falane ke ladke ko dekho’ Syndrome where from a young age, children face immense pressure to excel academically, starting in school where they are constantly compared to their peers. This pressure cooker environment has led to a decline in physical activities and playtime, essential for healthy childhood development. As they grow older, the stakes are raised, with even 99% is not enough to get them into preferred colleges and universities. This relentless pursuit of success pushes them into a frenzy known as adulthood, where securing a job and meeting societal expectations become the primary focus. The pressure to conform to traditional norms of ‘ghar ki zimmedaari’ is overwhelming, with marriage at the "right" age being a significant milestone because ‘Fir koi shadi nahin karega tujhse’ wala Pressure. However, this union often brings together two individuals who have been conditioned to suppress their emotions and struggles, leading to a complex web of unaddressed mental health issues. The grind to achieve a "bas theek se set ho jaayen wali life" as defined by Indian societal standards is exhausting, with individuals facing immense mental turmoil. ‘TIME KE SATH SAB THEEK HO JAYEGA’ In our society the best possible solution for any mental health issue is ‘Time ke sath sab theek ho jayega’. But what our society largely does not understand is that suppression of mental health issues can have severe and far-reaching effects on individuals. Bottling up emotions and thoughts can lead to a worsening of symptoms, increased stress, and decreased self-esteem. This can result in strained relationships, missed opportunities, and even increased risk of suicide. Moreover, suppression can lead to physical health problems, decreased productivity, and feelings of being trapped and helpless. It can also delay the healing process, increase anxiety, and decrease resilience, creativity, and self-confidence. MAJOR FACTORS AT PLAY: PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS: The fast-paced lifestyle and pressure to succeed have led to high stress and anxiety among Indians. This race against time, to achieve the least amount of success as per societal norms has built-up a frustration that often leads to aggression on the roads. This concept is called Displaced Aggression, where individuals redirect their frustration towards others. Many of us also struggle to manage our emotions, leading to impulsive reactions and aggressive behaviour. Lack of Emotional Intelligence, i.e. the ability to recognize and control one's emotions, is one of its primary reasons. Moreover, constant exposure to violence and aggression in media and social media has desensitized people, reducing empathy and compassion towards others. All this leads to the scenes where petty issues like changing of lanes start from abuses and end in fighting on roads. SOCIAL FACTORS: Social Media Corporations have been using Psychologists for designing their algorithms to make their platform more addictive thereby creating a culture of instant gratification. This has led to a decreased patience among its users, which is the majority of the Indian Population resulting in increased aggression among them. News Channels also prioritise sensational content thereby subconsciously feeding aggression and conflict in the minds of their viewers. Earlier, family and school/college friends used to function as a support network for individuals but Rapid urbanisation and migration due to career needs have also led to disconnection thereby increasing stress and anxiety. As individuals grow, they often struggle to form new connections, leading to loneliness and isolation. ECONOMIC FACTORS: Financial stress and income inequality is also frustrating, leading to aggressive behaviour. When feeling financially insecure, individuals tend to become more aggressive in their pursuit of success. Also, poor road infrastructure and unplanned urbanisation has led to increased congestion, thereby fueling aggressive behaviour. This can be better understood as ‘Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis’, which states that people become more aggressive when they hit blocks in achieving their goals. In this case, traffic congestion and poor driving sense among many drivers fuel increased aggression on the roads. YAKSHA PRASHNA: HOW TO TACKLE THIS ISSUE? To tackle the issue of mental health, a comprehensive approach from the Government is necessary. This includes launching public awareness campaigns to educate people about the importance of a healthy mind, providing access to mental health support services like counselling and therapy, and offering anger management courses to teach emotional regulation and responsible behaviour. Apart from that, improving road infrastructure, promoting the importance of responsible usage of social media, and fostering community engagement and empathy are also crucial. Targeting kids at an early stage by incorporating mental health awareness and anger management into school curricula and driver education programs can help in developing emotional intelligence and empathy from a young age. Also Read: Karnataka To Bring Up Four Industrial Parks, For Women Entrepreneurs Furthermore, practising yoga daily with your family can also help tackle mental health issues by reducing stress and anxiety. By addressing the psychological, social, and economic factors contributing to this issue, we can work towards creating a safer, more compassionate society. It's time to take responsibility and promote a culture of empathy, patience, and understanding.

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Arjun Chaudhary

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Road Rage Pandemic- A Mirror Of Deteriorating Mental Health In India

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