Silent Crisis of Mental Health in India | 13 Nov 2024

Source: DTE

Why in News? 

The Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India 2021, report  highlighted a growing concern regarding mental health in India, an issue that remains significantly underexplored despite its critical implications for public health.

What Contributes to the Crisis of Mental Health in India?

• Alarming Statistics: 
  • Suicide Rates: According to this report by the National Crime Records Bureau, men account for 72.5% of suicide victims in India, indicating a profound mental health crisis. 
    • In 2021, over 73,900 more men than women died by suicide, despite research indicating women have higher rates of anxiety and depression. 
  • Disparity Across Age Groups: A significant increase in suicides is observed among men aged 18-59, with a 170.7% rise in suicides among daily wage earners from 2014 to 2021. 
• Impact of Societal Norms: 
  • Cultural Expectations: Deep-rooted cultural norms often prevent men from addressing emotional struggles, as stoicism and resilience are valued.  
    • This, combined with the stigma around mental illness, creates significant barriers to seeking help, worsening the mental health crisis among Indian men. 
  • Coping Mechanisms: Men tend to externalize mental health issues through aggression or substance abuse rather than seeking emotional support, which is more common among women.  
    • Women typically seek emotional support from loved ones, while men often use problem-focused strategies, distancing from their emotions. 
  • Contrast in Mental Disorders: While men exhibit higher suicide rates, women report more mental disorders like anxiety and depression, highlighting men's lesser ability to cope. 
• Physiological and Psychological Factors: 
  • Stress Responses: Research indicates that men typically respond to stress with a "fight or flight" reaction, releasing stress hormones like norepinephrine and cortisol. 
  • Differences in Coping Strategies: Women’s "tend and befriend" response, influenced by oxytocin release, often leads them to seek social support, contrasting with men's tendencies to distance themselves from their emotions. 

What are the Steps taken by the Government to Address the Mental Health in India? 

• National Mental Health Program (NMHP): To address the huge burden of mental disorders and the shortage of qualified professionals in the field of mental health, the government has been implementing the NMHP since 1982. 
  • The Program was re-strategised in 2003 to include two schemes, viz. Modernisation of State Mental Hospitals and Up-gradation of Psychiatric Wings of Medical Colleges/General Hospitals. 
• Mental Health Care Act 2017: It guarantees every affected person access to mental healthcare and treatment from services run or funded by the government. 
  • It has significantly reduced the scope for the use of Section 224 of the BNS and made the attempt to commit suicide punishable only as an exception. 
    • The Section mandates that attempting suicide to compel or restrain a public servant from their duties is punishable by up to one year of simple imprisonment, a fine, both, or community service. 
• Kiran Helpline: In 2020, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched a 24/7 toll-free helpline ‘Kiran’ to provide support to people facing anxiety, stress, depression, suicidal thoughts and other mental health concerns. 
• MANAS Mobile App: To promote mental wellbeing across age groups, the Government of India launched MANAS (Mental Health and Normalcy Augmentation System) in 2021. 

What are the Technological Innovations in Mental Health? 

• AI in Mental Health Support: Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents new opportunities to address men's mental health challenges, particularly for those reluctant to seek traditional help. 
  • AI-driven Tools: Platforms like Fortis Healthcare’s Adayu Mindfulness app and Manodayam are already using AI to provide personalised mental health insights and blended treatment options. 
  • Innovative Algorithms: The method helps identify subtle language and behavior patterns that may signal early signs of mental health issues like depression or anxiety. 
  • Tailored Treatment Strategies: AI can analyse personal therapy responses to suggest the best treatment options, improving results. 
• Brain Stimulation:  
  • Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS): It is a non-invasive treatment using magnetic pulses to target specific brain areas, showing promise for severe depression that doesn’t respond to standard medications. 
  • Closed-Loop Neurostimulation: It uses sensors to monitor brain activity and automatically adjusts stimulation settings based on the detected brainwaves in real-time.  

What are the Recommendations for Addressing the Crisis? 

• Increasing Mental Health Literacy: There is a critical need to enhance awareness and understanding of mental health issues among men to reduce stigma. 
• Innovative Approaches: Leveraging AI and other technological solutions can facilitate access to mental health resources. 
  • AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants, utilising natural language processing and machine learning, can provide accessible and personalised mental health support in real-time. 
• Creating Supportive Environments: Breaking down societal barriers and fostering open conversations around mental health can encourage people to seek help and support. 
• Vision for the Future: Envision a future where mental health is prioritised, and men feel empowered to seek help without stigma. 
• Ensure Proper Workforce: There are just 0.3 psychiatrists, 0.07 psychologists and 0.07 social workers per 100,000 people in India.  
  • As compared to psychiatrists in developed countries it is 6.6 per 100,000 and the average number of mental hospitals globally is 0.04 per 100,000 while it's only 0.004 in India. 

Conclusion

The silent crisis of mental health in India necessitates a multifaceted approach that includes enhancing mental health literacy, promoting innovative technological solutions, and dismantling societal stigmas surrounding emotional vulnerability.