We Indians are very good at taking care of our things. We service our cars on time, we go to the doctor when a fever crosses 101, and we save money “just in case.”
But when it comes to our mental health, we often dismiss it with, “oh, it’s just a phase” or “bas thoda stress hai” or “other people go through worse, we shouldn’t complain,” and then we carry on without any acknowledgement of it. We do not search any solution for it, nor do we use our “just in case” money to find one.
We do not acknowledge the issues of our mind and maybe that’s why this conversation is long overdue.
What is Mental Health, Really?
Mental problem is not just the absence of mental illness; according to the World Health Organization, Psychological Wellness is a state of well-being in which a person can cope with normal stresses of life, work productively, and contribute to their community.
In simple words, it affects:
- How we handle pressure
- How we make decisions
- How we manage relationships
- How we deal with failure
And in today’s world, that matters more than ever.
Basically, this is a spectrum; people differ in their experiences, and it differs from one situation to another. People who are exposed to difficult circumstances are at higher risk of developing a mental health condition.
Here, the conditions include mental disorders and psychosocial disabilities as well as other mental states associated with significant distress, impairment in functioning, or risk of self-harm.
Why Mental Health Awareness is Needed
We live in a rat race of constant deadlines, pressure, and expectations. Our mental status helps us navigate through these struggles of daily life. Poor mental health has been linked to reduced productivity, strained relationships, health issues, and a lower quality of life in general. Ignoring mental health problems doesn’t make them go away (I personally have tried it, it does NOT help).
As per the World Health Organization, globally, depression and anxiety are among the leading causes of disability and untreated mental health conditions
Mental Healthcare in India
In India, Psychological Wellness is not taken as seriously as physical health, and there is a lot of stigma around this in Indian culture. Indians’ cultural norms provides many obstacles to mental healthcare:
- Discussing feelings and problems are seen as weakness (especially in men)
- “Log kya kahenge?” (What will people say): fear of judgment frequently prevents people from acknowledging emotional struggles.
- Some communities still associate mental disorders with superstition or myths, rather than biological and psychological factors.
- Gender bias also plays a role. Women often internalize distress due to social conditioning, while men may suppress emotions because vulnerability is equated with weakness.
The Cost of Ignoring Mental Health
Ignorance doesn’t result in the disappearance of the problem, it grows silently.
Rising Suicide Rates
According to the National Crime Records Bureau, suicide rates increased from 9.9 per lakh population in 2017 to 12.4 per lakh population in 2022.
These are not just numbers; behind each statistic is a family, a story, and a system that failed to respond early.
Burnout and Stress
Students, professionals, and caregivers are reporting higher levels of anxiety and burnout due to long hours, lack of support, and constant pressure to perform. Without attention, these can evolve into chronic depression and psychological disorders.
The Treatment Gap
India faces a severe treatment gap. The National Mental Health Survey of India reported that nearly 70–80% of individuals with mental disorders do not receive adequate treatment.
The Reality of Access to Mental Healthcare in India
Access to mental healthcare in India remains highly uneven. While urban areas are slowly seeing more psychologists, psychiatrists, and online therapy platforms, rural India still struggles with availability.
More than 80% of Indian individuals with mental health disorders do not receive timely or adequate treatment. Although close to 200 million Indians could benefit from mental health services, fewer than 30 million seek care due to limited access and stigma.
The government recognized this gap and launched Tele-MANAS in 2022 to provide 24/7 tele-mental health services across states. Though this is a positive step, we still have a long way to go to make mental health awareness and services accessible to all parts of India.
Mental health services should not be a luxury, it should be a right.
How Conversations Help
Change begins with conversation.
When parents openly talk about stress…
When schools include mental health education…
When workplaces acknowledge burnout…
Stigma slowly reduces when we open up more. Not talking about mental health gives more power to stigma.
Research consistently shows that early conversations and intervention significantly reduce severity of mental health outcomes.
Silence isolates. Conversation connects.
Common Myths in India
Let us address a few myths around the topic of mental health:
- “Only weak people get depressed.”
- “Therapy is only for extreme cases.”
- “Prayer alone can fix everything.”
- “Talking about suicide puts ideas in someone’s head.”
All of these are false.
Mental health conditions are medical and psychological conditions influenced by biological, social, and environmental factors.
Seeking help is not a weakness. It should be treated as a responsibility.
How Can India Improve Mental Health Awareness?
We need:
- Mental health education in schools
- Workplace mental wellness policies
- Media responsibility in reporting suicide
- Increased government funding
- More trained professionals
- Community-level awareness programs
Most importantly, we need empathy.
Bottom Line
Mental health is not a Western concept. It is not a trend and even though treatment for mental health problems is seen as a privilege, it should not be; it should be a normalized concept and a basic right.
India is progressing economically and technologically. But progress must also include emotional well-being because a nation cannot truly thrive if its people are silently struggling.
If we can talk about diabetes and blood pressure openly, surely we can talk about anxiety and depression too.
The conversation has to begin somewhere, so why not at home?
Mental Health Helplines in India
If you or someone you know needs help:
Tele-MANAS (24×7): 14416 or 1-800-891-4416
AASRA Suicide prevention helpline: 022 2754 6669
Snehi (Delhi) 24-hour helpline available locally: +91-9582208181
iCALL (TISS): 9152987821
(If there is immediate danger, contact local emergency services.)