India’s mental health problems obscured by stigma, dearth of data

Oct 13,2023

The past decade has reshaped our perspective on diseases. The covid-19 pandemic spurred a faster and more widespread adoption of hygiene practices, prompting individuals to rethink their lifestyles and social interactions. Diseases are ever-present, but fortunately there is a growing emphasis on promoting healthy habits and preventative healthcare.

However, the same can’t be said about mental health. Despite one in every seven Indians suffering from mental disorders, with onset seen as early as age 14 (Global Burden of Disease Study, 1990-2017), the discourse around mental health is insufficient. The stigma around mental disorders, their portrayal in mass media and prima facie suppression of discussions around it are some of the many reasons for this.

Today, various interventions exist to help people cope with the stressors such as pandemics, wars, fluctuating economies, diseases, poverty, hunger, climate change and so on.

Recently, the spotlight has shifted to post-traumatic disorders, especially considering the Ukraine war. In such situations, mental-health interventions become crucial to achieving balance after a distressing event, which is evident in how Sri Lanka dealt with the aftermath of its civil war. Trying to recover from the ruins of a communal war that lasted more than 25 years, Sri Lankans were left grieving the loss of their identities and loved ones. The nation needed respite, which is why a program that offered a specific school-based intervention was set up to help young children improve their mental health.

The topics covered included safety, stabilization, awareness and self-esteem, coping skills, reconnecting with the social context, and planning for the future. The results showed improvements in participants’ mental health and behavior, including improvements in the ability to settle disputes in a non-violent way. This change on the personal front helped students overcome their contextual stressors and helped them envision a better life.

Such interventions are proof that mental health services and counselling need to become more prevalent and normalized in our society. This is reflected in studies conducted in Indian schools, too. Two studies conducted by NIMHANS in schools in Bangalore implemented an eight-week coping skills program. The study reported clinically significant results, including a reduction in the severity of depressive symptoms, negative cognition, academic stress, and social problem-solving. A 22-point reduction in academic pressure and anxiety was witnessed.

In tribal areas of West Bengal, a two-year life skills intervention by All India Institute of Hygiene & Public Health, Kolkata & Jadavpur University, Kolkata, significantly improved resilience in the intervention group compared to the control group. It also led to improvements in internal locus of control and self-determination and reduced pathological behaviours in adolescents, just three months post-intervention. The intervention resulted in a 15% increase in students’ resilience.

School-level interventions have had tremendous success in India and worldwide, which is why introducing channels that help children learn about the delicate subject of their mental health can be extremely helpful. However, limited pilots are not enough. It is imperative that we take these learnings and scale the intervention for a more widespread positive impact.

Source: Livemint