Last Updated on January 30, 2024 by admin
An IIT Jodhpur study on mental health data from the 2017 National Sample Survey highlighted worrying trends – extremely low self-reporting rates of below 1% compared to the estimated 197 million Indians actually suffering from mental disorders.
Key findings show a socioeconomic disparity with higher income groups more likely to report issues. The private sector dominates mental healthcare delivery with 66% of outpatient and 59% of inpatient services while only 23% have related insurance. Out-of-pocket expenditure is far higher in private facilities.
IIT Assistant Professor Alok Ranjan attributed the massive underreporting to societal stigma that deters openness. Seeking mental health support is incorrectly perceived as weakness causing many to stay silent instead of getting help. Destigmatization is critical so that mental health assistance is normalized rather than judged. The study indicates the urgent need to address India’s mental health crisis more effectively.