The Economic Survey for 2023-24, launched on Monday, highlighted a worrying rise in mental health issues among Indians and advocated a comprehensive, community-driven approach to address this growing problem.
Highlighting the critical intersection of mental health with both health And in economic terms, the survey underlined that mental health problems can have broader impacts on productivity across society than physical health problems.
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According to data from the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) 2015-16, 10.6 per cent of adults in India suffer from mental disorders, with a significant treatment gap ranging from 70 to 92 per cent for different disorders. Urban metropolitan regions reported a higher prevalence of mental morbidity at 13.5 per cent compared to rural areas (6.9 per cent) and urban non-metropolitan areas (4.3 per cent).
The survey also noted that ongoing research indicates that people aged between 25 and 44 are the most affected by mental illness. Highlighting findings from the NCERT School Students’ Mental Health and Wellbeing Survey, it noted that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated poor mental health among adolescents, with significant percentages reporting feelings of anxiety, extreme emotions and mood swings related to academic pressures.
“Mental health problems not only diminish individual quality of life, but also limit overall productivity through absenteeism, reduced efficiency, disability and increased health care costs,” the survey noted.
While the survey acknowledged India’s positive progress in mental health policy development, it highlighted the importance of effective implementation to maximise impact. It identified gaps in current programmes, particularly in regard to awareness and stigma, which hinder the effectiveness of interventions.
The document called for a transformative approach to mental health and for a bottom-up strategy that involves communities holistically. It stressed the need to combat stigma by normalizing conversations about mental health and promoting acceptance and seeking treatment similar to physical ailments.
