Zara Esufally
At 15, I knew Psychology was my calling. Over a decade later, having gained two degrees and a wealth of hands-on experience in this field, my passion for mental health advocacy remains as strong as ever. I truly believe that revamping Sri Lanka's mental health landscape is the need of the hour- we need to prioritise awareness, implement evidence-informed policies and build frameworks that ensure best practice. Whilst there is an extensive amount of work to be done to achieve these targets, tangible change always starts with a simple conversation. This is why I have decided to write 'Mind the Gap.' My column aims to shed light on a range of mental health topics in both the local and global context; and inspire positive change in attitudes and approaches to psychosocial wellbeing.
How To Have Difficult Conversations with Loved Ones
Do you avoid having difficult conversations at all costs? Is disappearing through the floor more appealing to you than broaching that topic? You are definitely not alone. Confrontation can be scary,
Overcoming Procrastination: Beyond Time Management
Procrastinators always get a bad rep. People think they’re lazy, demotivated or all together unbothered. The truth is procrastination has much less to do with poor time management than it does with unregulated
Toxic Positivity How Forcing Happiness Does More Harm Than Good
We all know how frustrating it is to hear something along the lines of “Just be happy!” when we are having a bad day. This is because we recognize that our difficult feelings are being dismissed in favour of pretending that nothing is wrong, and we feel invalidated and hurt. When positive thinking is prescribed as a panacea for any feelings of unease, it can lead to guilt, resentment and isolation.
Understanding and Overcoming a Functional Freeze
Have you ever felt like your productivity is a ruse? Like you are able to do just enough to appear as if you are organized and efficient and yet on the inside you are entirely disengaged? Are you doomscrolling on your phone, making mental lists of everything you need to do but never quite getting round to doing it? You may be experiencing a functional freeze.
Understanding Stressors Faced by the LGBTQ Community
Pride month, celebrated every June honours the history, struggles and achievements of the LGBTQ community. Although solidarity and advocacy should be practiced all year round, this month shines a spotlight on the long-standing fight for equal rights, prominent figures within the community and the systematic oppression faced by individuals belonging to marginalised groups.
Understanding Imposter Syndrome We All Deserve to Take Up Space
Do you feel like everyone except you has it all figured out? Like they’re deserving of their successes but yours are down to luck? Are you constantly afraid of being found out? You might be struggling with imposter syndrome.
Bite-Sized Mindfulness Why it Doesn’t Need to Take All Day!
So, you’re running late for a meeting, and you’ve spilt coffee down your shirt. You’re working on 5 concurrent projects and they’re all due tomorrow; you hardly have time to eat or sleep and- someone wants you to meditate about it!? No chance.
A Deep Dive into the Myers-Briggs Type IndicatoR What Is It and Can It Be Trusted?
So, what do they mean and more importantly, do they really mean anything at all? The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is perhaps the best-known personality assessment out there. Developed by Katherine Cook Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers, the test draws inspiration from Carl Jung’s theories. Through a series of 93 questions, the MBTI claims to be able to categorize all individuals into 16 distinct personality types. This is done by
ADHD: Types, Treatment and Lived Experience
The exact cause of ADHD is as yet unknown, although research suggests a combination of genetic and environmental risk factors. No single gene has been identified as the sole cause of
An Overview of Seeking Mental Health Care
None of us are strangers to the fact that with most new things in life, starting is the hardest part. This also applies to seeking mental health care. So, you’ve identified something that you’re struggling with and you’re ready to address it- what now? How do you choose the right person to talk to and what should you expect from your conversations with them? Well, here’s the lowdown.
Overworked and Overwhelmed The Burnout Epidemic
Are you always on the clock? Dreaming about picking the low-hanging fruit in order to avoid boiling the ocean? Is your social life constantly on the back burner? Chances are, you’re teetering on the edge of burnout.
Navigating Teenage Mental Health Stressors and Coping Mechanisms
Our teen years are some of the most important years of our lives- we spend them learning who we are and what we stand for, as well as where our interests and skill sets lie. It is an incredibly exciting time, yet it is
The Future of Mental Health How Tele-Therapy and AI Are Revolutionizing Care
Does going to therapy feel like yet another task on a never-ending to-do list? Are inconvenient timings and a limited practitioner pool pushing it further and further down your list of priorities?
