Mental Health in India: The Elephant in the Room We Pretend Doesn’t Exist

 

Mental Health in India: The Elephant in the Room We Pretend Doesn’t Exist

Mental health is a topic that warrants serious attention but rarely receives it. It’s a subject most people would rather avoid, myself included—until a situation or conversation forces us to confront it. The harsh truth is that, according to recent studies, nearly everyone grapples with some level of mental health issue, whether they acknowledge it or not. Historically, such issues were brushed under the rug until they spiraled out of control, leading to the unfortunate institutionalization of individuals deemed “unfit” for society. But today, the conversation around mental health needs to move past stigma, denial, and misplaced priorities.

This morning, a friend sent me a video of an IIT graduate-turned-monk participating in the Maha Kumbh in India. The individual, once a student of Aerospace Engineering at IIT Mumbai, had renounced his career and worldly possessions, choosing instead the life of a Sadhu. Watching the video, it was evident that his behavior deviated from societal norms. A few decades ago, such a person might have been labeled mentally unstable—unless, of course, they donned a religious robe and smeared their forehead with sacred paint, instantly transforming them into a revered figure.

I jokingly remarked to my friend that India has a burgeoning market for mental health patients, though the conversation ended there. Yet, the truth of the matter is no joke. India desperately needs an overhaul of its mental health services. The stigma surrounding mental health remains pervasive, to the point where even seeking help is frowned upon. Families often accompany patients to therapy sessions, stifling open communication and preventing individuals from sharing their true struggles. Adding to the problem, India lacks robust laws protecting patient confidentiality, leaving health information casually discussed in public or even by providers themselves, as if it were gossip fodder.

Take the phenomenon of Sadhus in India, for instance. I’d wager that 90% of these self-proclaimed holy men and women are simply individuals disillusioned with their families and societal pressures. They renounce their lives, don saffron robes, and turn to a life of begging for sustenance. Narendra Modi himself has often spoken of his time as a wandering Sadhu, painting it as a virtuous chapter of his life. But let’s call it what it is—freeloading. Today, his policies mirror this ideology, as 60% of India survives on government handouts of 11 pounds of free grain each month. While this program feeds millions, it has created an unsustainable dependency, allowing Modi to shift his focus to the remaining 40% of the population—particularly his select group of business allies who benefit disproportionately from national wealth.

Modi’s time as a Sadhu also seemingly honed his ability to divide and manipulate, particularly along religious lines. Under his administration, the exploitation of mental vulnerabilities has taken center stage, with fake news and propaganda fueling animosity among communities. The RSS, once distant from Sadhu culture, now enjoys significant support from this group, a shift that coincided with Modi’s political rise.

Returning to mental health, India’s reliance on Sadhus and religious leaders as pseudo-therapists exacerbates the nation’s underlying issues. Many of these figures, often under the influence of drugs like marijuana—which is readily available in parts of India—offer rituals, platitudes, and temporary comfort rather than addressing the deeper, root causes of mental distress. Their influence perpetuates a culture of avoidance, where genuine mental health issues are masked rather than treated. Society often normalizes such behavior, failing to recognize that what is dismissed as spiritual visions or eccentricities could, in many cases, stem from neurological or psychological issues requiring medical attention.

At the root of many mental health challenges in India lies the family dynamic, where entrenched societal norms and biases exacerbate emotional distress. Unequal attention from parents, toxic sibling competition, and ridicule over failures create deep-seated emotional scars that often surface later in life. Girls, in particular, face an amplified degree of abuse within the family structure, as societal attitudes perpetuate a double standard that favors boys. Girls are frequently treated as "temporary" members of their natal families, regarded as someone else’s responsibility. This mindset leads to systemic neglect and, in many cases, mental and emotional abuse by both their parents and in-laws. The resulting trauma places women on a unique and harsher trajectory of mental health challenges, often leaving them with scars that manifest in ways society dismisses or overlooks.

Small successes within families are often glorified, fostering alienation among those who do not meet such standards. Conversely, failures are ridiculed, compounding the individual’s sense of inadequacy. This environment pushes many—particularly young people—toward political or religious groups where they seek acceptance and belonging. Tragically, these groups often exploit their vulnerabilities, leveraging their pain to fuel divisive agendas that destabilize societal harmony.

India’s chronic neglect of mental health services compounds these issues, creating an environment ripe for exploitation. Politicians and elites capitalize on psychological insecurities, using fear, misinformation, and manipulation to divide communities and solidify their power. In the absence of adequate mental health resources, individuals are left defenseless against such tactics, further fragmenting the nation and stifling its potential.

The urgency of addressing mental health as a national priority cannot be overstated. Treating it as taboo or trivial perpetuates cycles of suffering, weakens the social fabric, and hinders meaningful progress. For a country with India’s immense potential, ignoring mental health issues is not only irresponsible but deeply detrimental to its future. Breaking this cycle requires bold investments in mental health infrastructure, including accessible services and robust privacy laws that protect patients from stigma and judgment. Equally vital is a nationwide campaign to dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health, encouraging individuals to seek help without fear of ostracization.

India now stands at a critical juncture. To truly move forward, it must address the systemic neglect of mental health and provide its citizens with the resources they need to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. Failing to act will only deepen existing inequalities, empower those who exploit vulnerabilities, and keep genuine progress out of reach. The time for change is not tomorrow—it is now.