“The symptoms of any mental health disorder are not marked but mimic other conditions most of the times. Most people only need basic interventions,” said former India Medical Association president K.K. Aggarwal.
He added that often people have — “tension, fatigue, and body aches and just need someone to talk to, sit with them, and support them. It is only when these symptoms are allowed to develop that things start getting worse, leading to more serious problems over the time.”
Doctors have, however, noted that although 27% of India’s districts have a mental health programme, many lack a fully equipped team. Indians are not immune to mental health issues, but do not believe they are suffering either.
Mental care experts add that depression, in several cases, may also be strongly intertwined with major structural and social issues like poverty, domestic violence, and early marriage. It is, therefore, imperative to look at the issue holistically.
Treatment gap
An estimated 150 million people across India require mental healthcare interventions, both short and long-term, reveals the National Mental Health Survey 2015-16. The overall prevalence for current mental health morbidity is 10.6%.
Lack of awareness about the symptoms, the associated stigma, and inadequacy of mental health services have all resulted in a massive treatment gap in the country.