Even with the increasing awareness about mental wellness, it is no surprise that Indians are reluctant to visit a mental health expert in times of need. To confirm this, a health insurance company surveyed 6,000 people, including those from Chandigarh, in 9 cities. It was found that 81% of Chandigarh respondents were hesitant to speak with an expert and discuss mental health.
What Was The Survey?
Regarding mental health, there are many reasons why Indians are unwilling to seek help. Indian collectivistic culture places a high value on family ties. Asking for assistance from outside the family may be seen as a breach of trust. Discussions on mental health are frequently met with hushed whispers and raised eyebrows. The fear of being labelled as “crazy” or “weak” looms large.
The ‘New Health Normal’ survey, conducted by the Health Insurance company, involved face-to-face interviews with a diverse group of 6,651 participants from various age groups. This was spread across 9 major metropolitan areas. Delhi, Pune, Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Lucknow. Additionally, interviews were also conducted in 10 other cities. They are: Rajkot, Nasik, Nagpur, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Indore, Coimbatore, Kochi, Patna, and Guwahati. Among the respondents, 400 individuals from Chandigarh were interviewed explicitly for the survey.
Take A Look At The Findings
According to this survey, 96% of respondents in Chandigarh believe that mental health consulting should be covered by their health insurance policy, despite the fact that 81% of respondents are still hesitant to see a mental health professional because they are concerned about what people would think. Let’s talk about the insurance part for a minute.
In recent years, mental health insurance plans have emerged in India, offering coverage for mental health treatments. While the intention behind these plans is admirable, their implementation has faced challenges. This has resulted in a gap between the intended benefits and the actual experiences of people seeking mental health support.
Plans for mental health insurance do provide coverage, however, they often come with some restrictions and limitations. For example, they might impose waiting periods before people can use certain benefits. Mental health-related pre-existing conditions may not be covered. Additionally, coverage for particular therapies or alternative treatments may have restrictions. On top of that, the lack of awareness about mental health insurance plans comes in the way of people seeking help.
Coming back to the survey, physical exercise is highly regarded and inclined by local residents, despite the fact that mental health is still taboo. According to Chandigarh respondents, 87%, had maintained a consistent fitness schedule for longer than three months. Mayank Bathwal, CEO of the insurance firm, emphasized the importance of prioritizing counselling support over hospitalization when addressing mental health.
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