Is mental health a myth or a reality in India?
Awareness Health News

Is mental health a myth or a reality in India?

It’s necessary to quit. Don’t exhaust yourself. Take frequent breaks. Your mental health comes first. Get therapy; it’s a great help.

These are only a handful of the phrases or quotations you might have seen while browsing your social media accounts, though. Without a doubt, they sound fantastic. The fact that we don’t live in a perfect world makes everything about these quotes sound ideal. The majority of these aren’t even decisions you can make.

First an example
Take the example of a typical Indian middle-class family. You have a mother, a father, and a son. Even if it meant taking out a student loan, the parents did everything in their power to provide their child with the best education possible. The son received his degree and now works a 9–5 job at a salary of between Rs.30–50,000 per month. At this point, he is responsible for managing the family. Anyone would eventually become exhausted and fall into depression and anxiety when faced with his parent’s medical expenses, the repayment of his student debt, future planning, paying rent, and so much more.

Now the fact
Can he take a break, though? Can he leave? Can he genuinely put his mental health ahead of everything else? The solution is, in fact, obvious as day. Even if he considers seeking treatment—which, by the way, ranges from Rs.1, 000 to Rs.5, 000 an hour—he won’t be able to continue because of the costs. Why? Because it can take up to 25 to 30 therapy sessions for the average person to even feel a minor change in their mental health. The majority of insurance companies only pay hospitalization costs, not treatment expenditures, which is another significant problem. Just 7% of people in India can pay for their medical expenses out of pocket, while 44% rely on private insurance, according to a 2019 survey.

An average mental health therapy in India can cost up to 30–40% of a person’s monthly salary, according to a study. All this and we haven’t even touched on the social stigma that even the wealthiest of them all experience. Forget about how it could even feel to discuss this with someone in a remote area. India is predicted to lose Rs.1.03 trillion between 2012 and 2030.

According to the 2016 National Mental Health Survey, 14% of India’s overall population has a mental illness. What next does the government do? The government is required by Section 18 of the Mental Healthcare Act of 2017 to ensure that everyone has access to mental health facilities. If not, the affected person should be compensated for the expense of their medical care. Did this occur? No. Even if the patient is fortunate enough to be admitted to a government-run clinic, the shortage of appropriate drugs, supplies, and staff makes things impossible.

According to a report by the WHO, nearly 90% of individuals in middle-income nations like India do not obtain the required medical attention. Yeah, it’s obvious why. The system is only intended for the wealthy, who do not need to worry about being the only source of income for their families.

The point is well-made. Only the wealthy can afford mental wellness. well for others mental health is a myth!

...

Leave feedback about this

  • Rating
X