INDIA'S MENTAL HEALTH QUEST

Examine the changing facets of mental health in India. Dive deep intoythe prevalence” of mental disorders, treatment options, government and industry initiatives,,and more.

Navigating the mental health landscape in India is like decoding the Indus script. It's complex and enigmatic, yet holds the potential to transform our understanding of the subject. Mental health disorders are a significant concern in India, with a wide range of conditions such as depression, anxiety, substance misuse, psychosis, and dementia affecting the population.

The enormity of the challenge becomes evident when we consider that about 7.5 percent of the Indian population suffers from some form of mental disorder, as observed by the World Health Organization. Mental illnesses constitute one-sixth of all health-related disorders and India accounts for nearly 15 percent of the global mental, neurological, and substance abuse disorder burden. The WHO also estimates that 5.6 crore Indians suffer from depression and another 3.8 crore Indians suffer from anxiety disorders.

In 2017, 19.73 crore people had mental disorders in India, including 4.5 crore with depression and 4.4 crore with anxiety disorders. The WHO estimates that India bears a mental health burden of 2,443 disability-adjusted life years (DALYS) per one-lakh population. The age-adjusted suicide rate is 21.1 per lakh, and the economic loss due to mental health conditions between 2012 and 2030 is estimated at $1.03 trillion (Rs 8,574.76 crore, approximately).

According to India's National Mental Health Survey, 13.7 percent of individuals had experienced some form of mental morbidity at some point in their lifetime. Research found that 10.6 percent of participants were currently affected by mental morbidity. The prevalence rates of mental health disorders in India need intervention and support systems to address the mental well-being of Indian citizens.