India’s Top Comics Give Better Mental Health Advice Than the Govt

We caught up with comedians Tanmay Bhat, Abish Mathew and Biswa Kalyan Rath to talk mental health.

(Photo: Erum Gour/FIT)

They’re the unlikely champions of mental health. In a country, that refuses to acknowledge mental health issues, who would have thought the “funny guys” would take it up?

And in times when even the government doles out inappropriate advice to people with depression, these comics are a breath of fresh air with their honest and meaningful take on mental health.

So, we caught up with comedians Tanmay Bhat, Abish Mathew and Biswa Kalyan Rath to talk mental health. They’ve spoken about it widely in an attempt to normalise it – be it narrating their own struggles or highlighting its importance.

So how does comedy fit in with mental health?

Before sitting down for the interview, Tanmay chips in “mental health is a very funny topic. Let’s do this.”

All three of them have made content on the topic, whether through jokes shining light on the issue or heartfelt messages to their fans.

But the men and women who make people laugh for a living often struggle with mental health challenges offstage like any of us. Globally, so many comedians like Elen DeGeneres and Robin Williams have struggled with it.

Robin Williams and Ellen DeGeneres.(Photo: Altered by FIT)

But people have this perception that “arre yeh toh haste rehte hain, inko kya problem hai.” So how do they deal with it?

Well, first and foremost everyone needs to realise that even happy-looking people can be struggling inside too. And that’s where therapy comes in, says Abish, who has spoken about going for therapy himself. If you can’t afford that, just talk to people and find a friend who you can confide in, he adds.

“Having a constant fear of this instability because it's not like a government job is tough. And a public life brings anxiety and uncertainity with it. That's the only part that is different from a regular job. Otherwise the problems are still the same,” says Tanmay.

Things Not to Say to People Struggling With Mental Health

Stuff like ‘lighten up, it’s okay no, it’s not a big deal’, ‘chill na, arre just get out, go for a walk, you’ll feel better’ – just stuff like that needs to stop. Mental health is just like taking care of your physical health.

Tanmay Bhat, Comedian

Abish feels along with sensitising people about it, the policies need to change too.

For example, if health insurance also takes under consideration having mental health, it would drastically change the way people look at it. Right now every time you get injured the first thing that comes to mind is that health insurance will take care of this. But therapy for mental health is expensive and that makes people stay away too.

Abish Mathew, Comedian

Their main message to people is that treat mental health the same way you’d treat your physical health. So, next time you make light of it, keep this in mind!