India's Mental Health Crisis

Fortis Healthcare launches #UnmuteYourself challenge and Bipasha Basu supports ‘#IAmHere4You’ movement

Every year October is commemorated as mental health awareness month, and this year the theme chosen by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) is 'Mental Health in the Workplace'. As responsible corporates, many organisations come forward on 10th October to raise awareness on mental health and wellness among the society at large.

India, according to a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), has one of the largest population suffering from one form of mental illness or the other. The report pegs that 6.5% of Indians suffer from some form of serious mental disorder, with no discernible rural-urban differences.

In India, the situation is a cause of worry with low awareness about the subject, the social stigma attached to it and lack of support from society. While there is much sympathy for mental health sufferers, stigmatisation is widespread.