India Inc must learn to be open about mental health

Will we reach a maturity level in our workplaces where a company can ask for a mental health check the same way it asks for a physical test after rolling out a job offer but before signing the final appointment letter?

- DEVINA SENGUPTA

When attention deficit disorder (ADD), cortisol spikes and high cholesterol are openly discussed in water-cooler conversation, why is mental health not a factor that needs to be gauged before an employment contract is signed?According to a senior partner at one of New Delhi's most prominent law firms, the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016 states that one is prohibited from discriminating against a candidate based on the Act's stipulated list of disabilities, unless proportionate to a legitimate objective.

A note released by the Press Information Bureau in December 2025 said that the same law defines a 'person with disability' as “someone who has a long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment which, in interaction with barriers, hinders their full and effective participation in society equally with others.”

While employers cannot be biased during the hiring process, they can take a final call depending on the role’s needs. If the mental health conditions of candidates may obstruct their work efficacy, should employers not be informed of such diagnoses? Maybe not under present workplace dynamics. But is it possible to reach a stage of openness where colleagues are aware of someone's condition, just as one may informally know about those who are vulnerable to, say, a sudden dip in blood pressure?