A concerning IIT Jodhpur study highlights a severe underreporting of mental health issues in India. Analysis of the 2017-18 National Sample Survey data, based entirely on self-declared information from over 5.5 lakh people, reveals less than 1% voluntarily shared their mental health problems.
Significant socioeconomic disparity exists with the richest income group 1.73 times more likely to report issues than the poorest cohort. Only 23% hospitalized had insurance coverage, emphasizing the vicious cycle between mental disorders and economic difficulties.
Outpatient and inpatient mental healthcare is dominated by the private sector, at 66% and 59% share respectively. Moreover, average out-of-pocket expenditure is substantially higher here than public facilities.
Researchers emphasized that India’s sociocultural diversity mandates localized mental health strategies. The extreme stigma and reluctance in sharing problems necessitates an environment where seeking assistance is destigmatized and encouraged. Tackling the staggering mental disorder burden requires multifaceted approaches considering social, regional and financial barriers.