DIAGNOSING INDIA'S MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGE

Unveiling India's mental health landscape: Challenges, trends, and innovations in diagnosis and treatment efforts.

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Mental health issues are a growing concern in India, affecting lakhs of people across the country. According to the World Health Organization, one in four families likely has at least one member struggling with a mental health issue. The 2024 edition of The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia journal shares some statistics on the occurrence of mental health disorders in India and globally. The mental, neurological, and substance use disorders make up more than 10 percent of the worldwide disease burden. However, about 85 percent of people in low and middle-income countries don’t have access to treatment.

In India, the overall rate of common mental disorders (CMDs), which include depressive and anxiety disorders, was 5.1 percent according to the 2016 National Mental Health Survey. In India, there also is a treatment gap of 80.4 percent, the journal points out.

Dr Harini Atturu, Consultant Psychiatrist at CARE Hospitals, Hyderabad, points to the concerning prevalence. “The prevalence of mental health disorders in India is steadily increasing with nearly 15 percent of the Indian population suffering from mental health problems,” she says.

Dr Sreystha Beppari, Consultant Psychologist at Apollo Clinic, Pune, observes a positive trend: “One prominent trend in mental health diagnostics in India is the increasing acknowledgment of various mental health disorders.” However, this shift has perhaps come after several decades of stigma and neglect. Public health programs and educational initiatives are raising awareness, leading to a gradual acceptance of conditions like depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.