Mental illness mostly goes undertreated in India due to a lack of awareness, the stigma surrounding mental health, and limited access to mental health services – its effect on our lives, society, and the economy can longer be overlooked. While the World Health Organization (WHO) has raised a red flag about depression as the second cause of disease burden and a leading cause of disability in the world, in India, nearly 20 percent of the total population in India suffers from variations of mental disorders. Many non-profit organizations and individuals in India have taken up the cause of raising awareness about mental health and minimizing the stigma around mental illness.

While the main challenge is poverty for men, the prevalence of violence against women aggravates and endangers women’s mental health. Other most common factors resulting in women’s vulnerability to mental conditions are hormonal factors related to the reproductive cycle, sexual abuse, being widowed or separated, low autonomy in decision making, low levels of family support, various life stressors including childbirth and maternal roles, caring and nurturing the old and sick of the family, less empowered due to lesser opportunities for education and respectable employment.

Depression in all degrees is a highly treatable mental disorder. But predominantly due to a lack of awareness and fear of social stigma, people do not ask for help and continue to live miserable lives. If someone is experiencing symptoms of depression, it is important to seek professional help. Treatment options can include therapy, medication, or a combination of both. In India, several government and non-government organizations provide mental health support such as mental health awareness campaigns, free therapy, and support hotlines. Unfortunately, even most people who are financially secured fear crossing social lines and seeking help only because of the disgrace associated with mental illness. It is crucial that a strong message to society is propagated that mental health is equally important as physical health, if not more. Because mental illness can in the same way disable a person from performing their duties and daily routine, reduce life expectancy, and even end life.

Various researchers around the world have confirmed that wealth and success cannot influence a person’s happiness beyond a point. How a person is feeling within themselves decides the real quality of life. And for this reason, taking care of mental health regularly should be normalized. Not only mental illness, we should learn about taking care of our mental health on a daily basis and understand that positive psychology has a strong role to play in deciding our quality of life.