Addressing India’s mental health crisis through innovation, awareness, ET HealthWorld
Mumbai: Mental health, which wasn’t taken seriously a few years ago, has been gaining much traction in the last few years. It has become a hot topic of debate, and there are a lot of discussions around mental health these days. Initially, individuals were reluctant to discuss their mental health due to the stigma surrounding it. This has been changing as awareness around it is increasing, but there is a lot more that needs to be done.
Mental health impacts individuals emotionally and psychologically and can have an overall impact on their health. The National Mental Health Survey 2015-16 revealed that nearly 15 per cent of Indian adults need active intervention for one or more mental health issues, and one in 20 Indians suffers from depression. It is estimated that in 2012, India had over 2,58,000 suicides, with the age group of 15–49 years being the most affected. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) globally, close to 800,000 people die by suicide every year; that’s one person every 40 seconds. For each suicide, there are more than 20 suicide attempts.
ETHealthworld interacted with Sigal Atzmon, Founder and CEO, Medix Global, on the current status of the burden of mental health disorders and its impact on the lives of those suffering from mental ailments. Atzmon highlighted the lack of self-reflection, stigma, limited resources, and awareness as major deterrents for those seeking professional aid.
“People often don’t recognise or acknowledge their emotions, leading to a misunderstanding of mental health. The stigma surrounding mental illness prevents them from seeking help,” shared Atzmon. “Employers offer inadequate employee assistance programmes (EAPs) with insufficient sessions, and insurance coverage for mental health is lacking.”
Atzmon proposed a solution that focuses on self-awareness, an initiative by Medix Global titled ‘Off Colour Programme’, where colours reflect the emotions of the individual daily. According to her, the act of colour selection helps identify patterns and encourages reflection over a long period. The programme emphasises that feeling ‘off colour’ is a normal part of life, and it’s important to acknowledge these emotions. By tracking their moods, users can gain valuable insights into their emotional well-being. The programme also offers a live chat feature for those who may want to seek additional support. Ultimately, she hopes this programme will reduce stigma and empower people to take charge of their mental health by first understanding their emotions.Delving further, she shared her views on EAPs, particularly concerning their role and effectiveness in addressing mental health issues within the workplace. EAPs are designed to offer support services to employees, typically including counselling, referrals, and resources for handling personal or work-related problems that might impact job performance, health, and mental and emotional well-being.
Touching upon the notion that while EAPs are intended to provide critical support, in practice, they often offer limited sessions (eg, four sessions per issue), which may not be adequate to address more complex or chronic mental health conditions effectively, Atzmon said, “Despite being a valuable resource, EAPs might be underutilised due to stigma around mental health or a lack of awareness about the programme’s benefits. Employees might hesitate to use EAP services due to concerns about confidentiality or fears that using the services could negatively impact their job security or progression. While employers provide EAPs, they might not actively promote their use or integrate them effectively into the workplace culture. This lack of active promotion and integration can lead to low awareness and underutilisation.”
She also pointed out that for EAPs to be more effective, they should be part of a broader, more integrated approach to employee wellness that includes proactive mental health support, regular follow-ups, and a culture that actively encourages seeking help. Suggesting that improving EAPs could involve extending the number of sessions offered, ensuring higher quality of care, and better training for managers to recognise signs of distress and guide employees towards the help they need.
For better awareness and impact, Atzmon highlighted the potential role of celebrities in promoting mental health awareness, as Indian celebrities are admired and followed by a large population. If celebrities opened up about their mental health struggles, it could normalise seeking help. There is a stigma around mental health in India, and some dismiss it as a ‘Western’ concept.
In conclusion, Atzmon emphasised the need for culturally appropriate mental health solutions in India by combining digital tools with human interaction and prioritising education and awareness.
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