Mental health is no longer a silent issue. It is now one of the largest public health challenges facing the world, India included. According to an analysis from the “Global Burden of Disease Study” published in The Lancet, anxiety disorder patients in India increased by 123.5% from 1990 to 2023. It also pointed out that there has been a steep rise in the cases of depressive disorder and anxiety after Covid-19. However, they are more than just numbers. Behind every number is a person struggling with stress, fear, loneliness, burnout, sleep problems or emotional pain. Many are students, young professionals, working parents and elderly people trying to cope quietly every day.

The study also points out an important reality -- mental disorders are now one of the leading causes of disability across the world, even more than many major physical illnesses. This should make all of us pause and rethink how we look at mental health in India. To its credit, the government of India has recognised this growing........

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