INDIA'S SILENT CRISIS

Ignoring mental health isn’t just cruel, it’s costly. The loss of creativity, productivity, and hope can cripple a society faster than any fiscal deficit

- Ajit Ranade is a noted economist. Sushil Walunj is a PhD Scholar.

Every morning, lakhs of IT workers put on their work faces—logging into video calls, answering emails, or rushing through commutes. Outwardly, everything looks fine: smiles, small talk, productivity dashboards.

But behind those screens and smiles, an invisible struggle brews. Anxiety, fatigue, sleeplessness, and a creeping sense of helplessness. These are the signs of a silent epidemic that rarely gets the attention it deserves. This is India’s “hidden crisis,” a public-health challenge quietly eroding our productivity, creativity, and social fabric. According to the WHO, neglecting mental health could cost India over $1 trillion in lost economic output over a decade. That figure isn’t just about hospitals or medication; it represents absenteeism, reduced innovation, and the quiet burnout that drains motivation from classrooms, startups, and boardrooms alike.