Health Original explainer
About one in ten Indian adults lives with a mental health condition. Most never get help. Here is what to know.
Most of us will feel stressed, anxious or low at some point. An exam, a job loss, a bereavement or a long illness can leave anyone sleepless and on edge. Usually these feelings pass. But for many people they do not pass, and they quietly begin to shape daily life: work, sleep, appetite, relationships and health. That is when stress stops being a normal part of life and becomes a health issue worth taking seriously.
In India, the scale of that issue is large. The National Mental Health Survey, carried out by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences in 2015-16, found that about 10.6 per cent of adults had a mental disorder at the time of the survey, and 13.7 per cent had experienced one at some point in their lives. In plain terms, about one adult in ten. Yet most of those people never receive any care.
Stress is the body's response to pressure. A deadline, a difficult conversation or a sudden expense triggers a rush of energy and alertness, the old fight-or-flight response. In small doses it is useful. It becomes harmful when it never switches off: months of worry, poor sleep and constant tension wear the body down, raising blood pressure and weakening immunity.
Anxiety is closely related. It is worry that persists even when there is no immediate danger, often with a racing heart, restlessness, difficulty concentrating and disturbed sleep. Depression is different again: a low mood that lasts weeks, with loss of interest in things once enjoyed, tiredness, changes in appetite and sleep, and feelings of worthlessness. These are real health conditions, not weaknesses of character, and they are among the most common health problems in the world.
The same national survey found a treatment gap of 70 to 92 per cent, depending on the disorder. That means between seven and nine out of every ten people with a mental health condition receive no treatment at all. The gap for common conditions such as depression and anxiety is above 85 per cent.
Stigma is a large part of the reason. Many families still treat mental illness as a matter of shame or a personal failing, and people fear what neighbours, employers or even relatives will say. But the system is also thin. India has only about 0.75 psychiatrists for every one lakh people, far below the World Health Organization's norm of three. In many districts, the nearest psychiatrist is hours away, and a consultation can cost more than a day's wages. The result is that people suffer alone, or turn to faith healers and unproven remedies.
The law has moved in the right direction. The Mental Healthcare Act of 2017 made access to mental health care a legal right and said that mental illness cannot be a ground for discrimination. It also decriminalised suicide, treating it as a health issue rather than a crime. But a right on paper is only useful if services exist to claim it.
There is no single cure for stress or anxiety, and anyone promising one is selling something. But several things genuinely help, and they are the same things doctors recommend first.
These steps help with everyday stress. They do not replace treatment when a condition is severe. Therapy, in which a trained counsellor helps a person change unhelpful patterns of thought and behaviour, works well for anxiety and depression. So do medicines prescribed by a doctor, which correct chemical imbalances in the same way medicines correct blood pressure. Neither is a sign of failure. They are treatment, like any other.
Consider seeking help if low mood, worry or sleeplessness lasts more than two weeks, if it interferes with work, study or relationships, if you have lost interest in things you used to enjoy, or if you have thoughts of harming yourself. The earlier help is sought, the easier recovery tends to be.
Free help is available. Tele-MANAS, the government's National Tele Mental Health Programme, launched on 10 October 2022, offers free and confidential counselling around the clock on the toll-free number 14416, in 20 languages. By mid-2026 it had 53 cells across states and union territories and had handled more than 42 lakh calls. A trained counsellor answers, listens, and guides the caller to further care when needed. District hospitals and many medical colleges also run psychiatry outpatient clinics, and the District Mental Health Programme now covers hundreds of districts.
If someone close to you is struggling, the best first step is simple: listen without judgement, ask how they are doing, and offer to go with them to a doctor or to call the helpline together. You do not need to have answers. Being present is often enough to start.
This article is general information, not medical advice. If you or someone you know is in distress, please speak to a doctor or call Tele-MANAS on 14416. If there is an immediate risk of harm, contact emergency services or go to the nearest hospital.
This explainer was written by The Daily Short's desk from the sources listed above. It is general information, not professional advice. Spot an error? Tell us via the Contact page and we will correct it. Follow our official Instagram @the.daily.short.