New Delhi/Indore: A recent survey has found that 77 per cent Indians feel that the current level of conversations and initiatives around mental health in India are insufficient, while almost 9 in 10 know this is an important 'health' aspect.
According to the Fiama Mental Well-being Survey India 2020, which covered 15 cities across India with over 700 participants aged 18-45 years, 1 in 4 young Indians feel that mental health issues can start as early as the teens, while 70 per cent of young India feels that one is susceptible to mental health issues by the age of 35 given the socio-economic milieu we live in.
Conversations around mental health in the country have increased over the last few years, but the problem continues to grow especially in the younger part of the country's population. 70 per cent of young Indians under the age of 25 have had issues with mental well-being, but only 26 per cent have been able to consult a professional counsellor or therapist.
Most of them have relied on reaching out to friends and family or have looked for help online. This indicates that young India is still hesitant is seeking out professional help, reveals the survey conducted in partnership with Nielsen.
Impact of lockdown on mental well-being:
A whopping 82 per cent of India feels that lockdown has negatively impacted mental and emotional well-being, due to professional uncertainty, inability to pay bills and concerns on mobility.
Young India's beliefs about mental health and role of social media: More than half of young respondents associated depression with mental health, followed by stress and disturbed peace of mind
Almost 7 in 10 believe that mental health issues can adversely affect physical health, and more than half feel that it adversely affects personal relationships.
The top possible issues identified by the respondents to have an adverse effect on mental well-being are: Pressure of maintaining relationship with your partner; Managing daily household chores; Work pressure; and Poor performance in exams.
So what helps young India stay balanced? Almost 60 per cent of young Indians feels activities like yoga, meditation and exercise enhance mental well-being, while almost 2 in 10 rely on socialising to feel better.