The rise of social media has contributed to the increase in awareness of mental health issues. This has provided a platform for individuals to reach out for help. It has also helped teach the audience about the various diagnostic categories of disorders that could affect an individual. What’s not so pleasing about this occurrence is the very downplayment of these disorders. It all makes it seem like a single conversation or intervention that can easily pull someone out of a bad place. While it does help open discussions, it might give the impression that complex mental health struggles can be resolved too simplistically. The constant repetitive voice around us that always shouts out self-care can be irritating because sometimes you may require something longer than a spa day or a tub of ice cream.

The word “Jugaad” is embedded so deeply in our culture. It succeeds at showing our adaptability and the wonderful art of making things work with whatever we can find. The little shortcuts, by skipping the whole process and bending the rules. As a society, we take pride in this but fail to realise that when we apply this process to our mental well-being, it gets dark.

But here's the problem about jugaad: it was never intended to be a permanent solution. When you require stitches, it's like a band-aid. Quick remedies are rarely effective when it comes to mental health. The cracks just grow, and you're left standing on shaky ground, wondering when it all began to collapse.

Danger of Oversimplification

Mental health disorders are often multifactorial—rooted in biology, environment, psychology, and personal history. It is a condition that may require a mix of psychotherapy, medicine, and lifestyle modifications, sometimes over years. Quick fixes that are promoted by society downplay the intensity of these experiences. The "toxic positivity" culture that is prevalent on social media can sometimes intensify this problem. It suggests that one can simply “choose happiness” or “stay positive” to overcome mental struggles.

Monetisation Of Mental Health

The monetisation of mental health has also been facilitated by social media. Weighted blankets, stress-relieving candles, and wellness apps are examples of products that are marketed as mental health aids but are not cures.Because of this commercialisation, mental health is now seen as something that can be "fixed" or "purchased" with money. Rather than tackling the underlying reasons behind their mental health issues, people could spend money on goods that claim to reduce anxiety or improve depression. The culture in which mental health is viewed as an add-on rather than a necessary component of life that calls for constant, deliberate effort is influenced by this transactional approach to mental health.

Photo by  Dawit Team  on  Unsplash

Theory in Play

Albert Bandura's Social Learning Theory is one psychological theory that contributes to the understanding of this phenomenon. According to Bandura, in this theory, people pick up attitudes, behaviours, and emotional responses from watching other people and their behaviour. Similarly, users of social media are more often than not exposed to celebrities and influencers, sometimes even peers who appear to have everything together. Their mental health seems to be under control, usually through the employment of straightforward techniques. This invokes a false feeling of security in people thinking that if they only follow their favourite influencer's lead, they too will feel better. This observational learning process lays the foundation for disappointment as it creates irrational expectations for recovery.

If we treated our minds the same way we treat a broken piece of machinery, our minds would be so much healthier. Not with duct tape and temporary fixes, but with time, patience, and understanding. It's important for us to know that it’s okay to pause. To take a breather and to feel. To admit that we’re not always okay. Because beneath the term of jugaad lies a quiet truth: true healing takes time, and shortcuts simply postpone it.

Photo by  Alexander Shatov Team  on  Unsplash

Jugaad tricks us into thinking we’re okay when, in reality, we’re just numbing the pain.

It is not always necessary to find a quick way out; rather, we must face what is in front of us with honesty. It's about giving ourselves permission to feel broken at times, recognising that true strength comes from embracing those moments and allowing ourselves to heal naturally.

Wouldn’t that be the most beautiful jugaad of all?

Heart It Out offers personalised therapy, self-care tools, and 24/7 mental health support. Their services include individual counselling, mindfulness exercises, and diagnostic assessments to promote long-term emotional well-being. These holistic approaches emphasise sustainable self-care over quick fixes.Reach out to a mental health professional at Heart It Out for a personalised growth plan today!