Subhechcha Ganguly 
Meet Shabana Anjum: a versatile force of inspiration as a teacher, counsellor, and acclaimed author. Her literary journey shines with accolades like the ‘Women of Substance Award 2022’ for her impactful poetry collections, including ‘You have to shine’ and ‘Aasha ke Ankur,’ radiating motivation. Garnering ‘The Iconic Author Award’ for her collection ‘Burbles of the Soul,’ which combines poetry and short stories, she now presents her latest masterpiece, ‘The Fervent Hues.’ Shabana Anjum’s work embodies empowerment and creativity, making her a true beacon of literary excellence.
1. As a counsellor and author, you have a unique perspective on the intersection of literature and mental health. How do you believe literature, particularly poetry and stories, can contribute to promoting mental well-being?
Ans: Human mental state is governed by thoughts nurtured in one’s mind. These thoughts design our personality and determine our future. If we reflect over the origin of these thoughts, we will find that literature play a major role in formation of these thoughts. Whatever piece of literature a person reads, he imbibes those thoughts and values within himself. Researchers have found that the connectivity of the network in human brain is strengthened by reading.
Not only this, it has been globally confirmed that reading constructive content reduces stress as well as mitigates depression. Reading also lessens the chances of old age mental problems like dementia, Alzheimer’s, etc. I would like to advise people to cultivate the habit of reading and also encourage their children to read books.
2. In your counselling experience, what are some common mental health challenges that individuals, especially women, often face? How can literature play a role in addressing these challenges?
Ans: As a counsellor, I have seen people struggling with their mental issues. Some of them could express their feelings while some just smouldered within themselves, being smothered by the silent trauma. As a teacher, I came across kids between age 14-16, who are unaware of what depression is. Their mental issues can be observed in form of misbehaviour with elders, arguments, disobedience, verbal outburst, withdrawal, low spirits, low confidence, poor grades and being lonesome. These are the indicators of mental illness. Instead of understanding them, their family treats them as a child who is undisciplined and arrogant. If they are treated properly, their behaviour can be pacified. And the best way is to give them books that knocks on their mind-set and take them in the right direction.
Women are the ones who suffer from mental issues as a result of the fluctuating state of their hormones. I would like to mention PPD(post partum depression) which is of different degrees for different women, depending on the environment and health of a woman. PPD reaches to such extremes in some cases, that the woman start having hallucinations. A good book, recommended by expert counsellor can help reduce these mental issues. Literature definitely helps not only to stop the worsening of the condition, but also in recuperating to a normal state.
3. The theme of empowerment is prominent in your work. How do you think empowerment and self-acceptance contribute to overall mental wellness, and how can individuals cultivate these traits?
Ans: Empowerment means making a person free, literally. People are free, but we often see that they are dependant on others for making major decisions and choices in their lives. This leaves negative impact on their mental health. Some over-sensitive people, who cannot handle this stress, lose their mental balance. Losing mental balance is not always visible. It can be seen in the abnormal behaviour, violent outbursts on children, remaining desolate all the time. Empowerment gives the person a sense of liberty, which leads to happy mind. A happy mind results in a healthy mind.
The second factor that you mentioned is self-acceptance. This is another factor that is necessary for mental wellness. Self-acceptance means lack of any kind of complex within your mind. If a person considers himself to be inferior to others in any aspect, beauty, wealth, status, etc., that again results in anxiety and withdrawal. We can help that person to understand and accept that each human being is unique and precious. Instead of comparing oneself to others, one should accept whatever he or she is. A person should find out their hidden skills and abilities. Instead of getting depressed, one should work upon oneself to become more confident.
Mental wellness is a vital aspect of human life. A mentally sick person spoils not only his own life, but lives of all the people who are directly related to him, i.e.,parents, siblings, spouse, children, all of them have to suffer the impact of the mental sickness. I have seen these effects, especially on children. In their growing years, when a child yearns for the warmth and love of his or her parent, the parent is engrossed in his own state of depression. The children are deprived of the fundamental needs, i.e., the care and affection, and also the proper guidance that they should receive from a parent, in their growing years. It is essential to keep people around us, as well as ourselves mentally fit. Empowerment and self-acceptance are major factors that can help us to achieve sound mental health.
4. “Burbles of the Soul” combines poems and short stories. How do you see storytelling as a tool for opening up conversations about mental health, and how can it help reduce stigma?
Ans: Storytelling has been a very important tool, be it through books, movies, audio tapes, etc. It is human nature to connect to the characters in a story. This connection causes the release of oxytocin in the brain, which ia a hormone related to empathy. It boosts up emotional intelligence. When a person finds another individual, which is a character in a story, undergoing the same situation, it gives a raise to the confidence level. A person who is struggling with some sort of mental sickness, gets bold enough to discuss their issues and thus making it easy for others to understand them and extend a helping hand. This way, through storytelling we can soothe and minimize the stigma of mental illnesses.
5. Your latest book, “The Fervent Hues,” touches on various aspects of life. How does this work touch upon the complexities of mental health struggles and personal growth?
Ans: ‘ The Fervent Hues’ is a collection of poetry on aspects of people who are struggling in their life, people who have lost confidence, people who are anxious and sad with their life. My first book ‘You Have to Shine’ also has such poems. Whenever I feel stressed up or sad, I write these poems. These poems are written with the aim to raise one’s spirits high. These poems are like messages for any person who has lost all hopes from life. It has poems and articles that touch on the values of empathy, hope, self-acceptance, love for nature. The readers will surely find it as a tool to uplift their low spirits, gain hope, build faith in the Supreme Creator, find peace in the nature and they will definitely fall in love with oneself, with the Almighty and His Creations. It is said that ‘Faith can move mountains’. It is Faith that lays foundation to a robust self-confidence. Once a person builds up his self confidence and inner strength, all the mental issues start to volatilize, gradually.
6. Mental health issues often come with a sense of isolation. How do you suggest individuals reach out to friends, family, or professionals for support? Are there ways your writing encourages such openness?
Ans: Mental sickness is not a disease. It is rather a mental condition, which comes with a feeling of insecurity or a hidden fear of anything. This fear or insecurity may or may not be evident to the person himself or the people around him. Sometimes a sufferer himself is totally unaware of the cause of the illness. This is because the cause lies in his sub-conscious mind. Such people isolate themselves from the others, as they feel safe in their invisible shell. This aggravates their mental sickness even more. Once the person understands that he can alleviate his problem if he comes out of his shell and talks to his trusted ones, to his family or go for counselling. Only if the person suffering from mental sickness, makes a firm decision to get himself recovered, he can get the help from others.
I have myself experienced phases of depression and gloom in various stages of my life. I would then pull myself out of it by talking to my near ones. My husband has been a solid pillar of strength for me. He always listened patiently to me whenever I felt like letting out my inner turmoil. Another way of soothing myself was reading. Books have played a great role in changing my outlook on life. My writing is a product of what I have fed to my mind. My write-ups will definitely help people in mental sickness, to come out of their shell of insecurity and misery and seek help.
I recommend my writing to people who are struggling in various spheres of life, be it health, relationships , career, etc. They will find their answers in one or the other poem or articles.
7. Could you share a specific example from your teaching or counselling experiences where literature or your writings had a significant positive impact on someone’s mental well-being?
Ans: One of my students had lost his hopes from life. He had filled negativity in his heart to such a level that he had forgotten what happiness is. I read out a poem to him, which not only could be seen on his face but also left a large impact on his mind. He did not speak about it, but later on, I noticed how his life changed. He started working on his personal life, trying to put right all the setbacks in his life. I am not claiming to be a magician or a psychiatrist, but as a counsellor I am aware, seeing the effect of my words as well as writings, that it does make a difference.
8. What steps do you think schools, communities, and organizations should take to prioritize mental health awareness and support, especially considering your role as an educator?
Ans: Children are the future of this world. If schools focus on the all round development of a child, making him strong on the emotional and psychological grounds, along with his intellectual aspect. Besides IQ (intelligence quotient), there are other areas to work upon, like EQ (emotional quotient ), SQ (social quotient) and above all, AQ (adversity quotient). Through activities, a child should be made resilient and strong enough to handle wisely, the ups and downs in life. This will reduce the number of cases of mental and psychological issues, that lead to depression and self-destruction. The communities and organisations should also have the goal of working upon the mental well- being of the people living in the society, especially children and women, by organising events that help them to open up and vent out their feelings and help each other to come out of their invisible shell of insecurity, low confidence and fear.
9. Your work often focuses on themes of resilience and overcoming challenges. How can individuals apply these principles to navigate their mental health journeys?
Ans: I have received feedback from my readers which I will like to mention. They say that the language that I use in my writing is simple and lucid, which they find easy to connect with. This will enable people of all ages and all levels to read, understand and implement my thoughts in their life and move towards mental stability and peace. My writing takes readers towards optimism and builds deep faith in the Almighty. It may help people to be hopeful and enthusiastic about their life, thus enabling them to overcome all mental health issues.
10. “Aasha ke Ankur” and “You have to shine” carry messages of hope and determination. What advice do you have for individuals who are struggling to find that inner spark and positivity in their lives?
Ans: To embed positivity in our life we have to steer our mind towards strong faith in the Almighty. Mahatma Gandhi said, ‘ Your beliefs become your thoughts. Your thoughts become your words. Your words become your actions. Your actions become your character/values. Your values become your destiny.’ So if we want a bright future, we had to fill our mind with strong beliefs. Unless and until a person changes his way of visualising life, he cannot change the state of his mind, and thus, he will not find any change in his life. I believe in the saying
‘If it has to be,
It is up to me’.
To find that inner spark and positivity a person should be working on it from within. No motivation from outside world can make a change in your life, if you don’t allow it to do so. One should read books that take their belief in the right direction leading towards positivity.
11. Could you share your thoughts on the role of mindfulness and self-reflection in maintaining good mental health, especially in the fast-paced world we live in?
Ans: The world around us will cause us to get subjected to stress and anxiety. In this fast-paced world, it becomes difficult to manage home, workplace, self-development, relationships, etc., alone. That is what leads to stress. One should make some time where one can sit alone and reflect on one’s personal life. This will help us to organize and handle our thoughts in such way that it minimizes the stress and leads our thoughts towards mental peace . Sometimes even half an hour of self-reflection helps us to declutter our mind of useless thoughts that affects your mental balance and cultivate beliefs and thoughts that are nutritious to the mind and soul.
12. Lastly, what future projects or initiatives do you have in mind that continue to promote mental health awareness and well-being through your unique blend of counselling and creative expression?
Ans: My future projects will be on how a person can maintain a perfect balance in all the spheres in his life, which will be a tool to promote mental health and well being of common people. As a teacher and counsellor, I feel it to be my duty to contribute towards the society through my writing.
I hope my readers like my work in future also and continue to extend their support and trust in my forthcoming projects.
