Mental Health

According to WHO, Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community. Statistics show that 1 in every 5 individuals suffers from some form of mental health illness symptoms. In India, WHO estimates that the burden of mental health problems is of the tune of 2,443 DALYs per 100,000 population. The suicide rate in India in 2015 at 15.7/100,000 is higher than the regional average of 12.9 and the global average of 10.6. Suicide is the leading cause of death among those aged 15–29 in India. The NIMHANS study reveals that due to the stigma associated with mental disorders, nearly 80 per cent of those with mental disorders had not received any treatment despite being ill for over 12 months. The report warned that with urbanisation, the burden of mental health problems on the society is expected to increase. The prevalence of mental morbidity, a disturbing scenario, the report suggests could be due to fast-paced lifestyles, experiencing stress, complexities of living, a breakdown of support systems and challenges of economic instability.