In India, where the prevalence of depression is alarmingly rising, it has become a serious worry. However, despite its gravity, mental health concerns in India continue to get a worrisome lack of attention. This article seeks to examine the causes of India’s severe depression crisis and investigates why this issue does not receive the attention it merits. We can find practical solutions to the problems with mental health that millions of Indians suffer by comprehending the fundamental causes of the lack of seriousness.
Responsible factors
There are various factors that contribute to the lack of seriousness of depression in India. They are:
Stigma and Cultural Factors:
The widespread stigma attached to mental health is a crucial factor in India’s lack of concern for depression. Mental health difficulties are frequently viewed as a sign of weakness or even as being possessed by evil spirits by deeply ingrained cultural beliefs. This stigma makes it difficult for people to ask for assistance or to talk openly about their issues and maintains a culture of shame and silence. Many people are reluctant to ask for help out of concern that they will be shunned or treated unfairly. This reluctance adds to the burden of depression.
Lack of Infrastructure:
India has a critical scarcity of facilities and specialists who work in the field of mental health. Since there is only one psychiatrist for every 343,000 people, many people still lack access to mental health services. Rural places and low-income communities are disproportionately affected by the lack of adequate mental health infrastructure since these areas are difficult to access for support and care. The absence of easily accessible and affordable mental health therapies exacerbates India’s depression pandemic, preventing people from having the tools they need to manage their mental health.
Social and economic influences:
The complexity of India’s socioeconomic structure considerably increases the burden of depression. Major obstacles to mental health include rapid urbanisation, income disparity, unemployment, and financial pressures. Pressure to achieve in a society with intense competition grows as the nation’s economy develops and grows. Feelings of hopelessness and despair can result from the dread of failing. They can also arise from the battle to live up to social expectations. Marginalized populations, who frequently face additional problems such as discrimination, limited access to school, and limited employment opportunities, exacerbate the mental health gap.
Lack of Education and Awareness
The dearth of thorough mental health instruction in schools and universities contributes to India’s ongoing ignorance of depression. Alarmingly low levels of mental health literacy in the general community make it difficult for people to comprehend and empathise with persons who are experiencing mental health problems. The lack of widespread awareness campaigns and public discourse exacerbates the inability to appropriately address the issue. India can start to end the cycle of ignorance and de-stigmatize conversations about mental health by including mental health education into educational curricula and launching focused awareness programmes.
Gender Disparity
The patriarchal society of India usually exacerbates the mental health challenges that women experience. Women experience higher rates of depression due to marital abuse, gender discrimination, and having less influence over their life choices. Women are under tremendous pressure to perform numerous tasks within the family, the house, and the workplace due to cultural expectations. The lack of facilities and support networks intended specifically to meet the needs of women in terms of mental health complicates matters even more.
The primary depression epidemic in India requires immediate attention and response. Society can work towards eradicating the stigma associated with mental health and ensuring that everyone has access to high-quality mental health care. This can be achieved by understanding and addressing the underlying causes of this issue. We must prioritise raising awareness, improving the mental health care system, advancing gender equality, and incorporating mental health education into a range of societal contexts. India may start to deal with the expanding mental health issues by prioritising them and fostering a positive environment.
