Mental Health in India: Why We Still Don’t Talk About It Enough
- “You’re just overthinking.” “Log kya kahenge?” “Go take a nap, it’ll pass.”
If you’ve ever opened up about your mental health in an Indian household, chances are, you’ve heard something like this. And honestly? You're not alone. Despite all the progress we've made as a country—launching Chandrayaan, breaking tech records, thriving startups mental health remains one of the most hush-hush conversations in India.
But why? Let’s dig into it. Not as experts in lab coats, but as real people trying to make sense of the silence.
“Mental Health” Isn’t a Western Concept—It’s a Human One
Here’s the thing: Emotional distress isn't a new-age problem, nor is it only for “people who have time to be sad.” It's as real as a headache or a fever—you just can't always see it.
Yet somehow in India, we’ve been wired to think:
- Depression = weakness
- Therapy = luxury
- Anxiety = drama
But if our ancestors could talk, they’d probably say, “We had Ayurveda and yoga for mental wellness long before ‘self-care’ was trending on Instagram.” So no, mental health isn’t new. Avoiding it is.
Why We Still Don’t Talk About It
1. Stigma is stitched into our sanskaar
- From a young age, we’re told to:
- “Adjust”
- “Be strong”
- “Don’t cry in front of others”
Which sounds noble… until you’re gasping for emotional air and no one sees it.
- Talking about therapy or depression? That’s still seen as:
- Shameful
- Embarrassing
- “Something rich people do”
2. Mental health ≠ real illness for many
Because you can’t “see” anxiety or “touch” depression, people don’t always believe it’s real. If someone has diabetes or cancer, we rally around them. But when someone’s battling a panic attack?
We say, “Sab thik ho jayega.”
3. Lack of access (and awareness)
Did you know:
- India has less than 1 psychiatrist for every 100,000 people?
- The National Mental Health Survey (2016) said nearly 150 million Indians need mental health care—but most don’t get it?
Story About My Friend
I’ll never forget a friend of mine let’s call her Geeta who smiled through college, cracked a great job, and then… disappeared for weeks. Turns out, she was battling major depression, hiding it behind selfies and hashtags. She finally opened up after a therapist told her, “You don’t need to break down to ask for help. You just need to feel human.”
So, What Can We Do?
You don’t need a psychology degree to support mental health. You just need empathy.
Start small:
- Ask “How are you?” and mean it
- Share your own struggles—it helps others open up
- Normalize therapy like we do gym or tuition
- Don’t judge, don’t dismiss, don’t joke about mental illness
And if you’re struggling? Please know—it’s okay to not be okay.
Mental health is not a trend. It’s not a weakness. It’s health. If we can openly talk about gym routines, green juices, and skincare... why not the mind? Let’s stop the whispers. Let’s speak up. Because healing doesn’t start with medicine—it starts with conversation.
