MENTAL HEALTHNESS: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
NEWS: IIT-Delhi campus suicides: After report flags toxic culture, here’s what varsity plans to do
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?
The recent IIT-Delhi suicide has reignited concerns about India’s growing mental health crisis, worsened by stigma, lack of access, and policy gaps. Strengthening infrastructure, awareness, and rights-based, community-centered care is essential for long-term mental well-being.
Recent Suicide at IIT-Delhi and Mental Health Concerns
• The recent suicide at Indian Institute of Technology Delhi has spotlighted the growing crisis of mental health among youth, especially in high-pressure academic environments.
• This tragedy reflects a wider mental health emergency in India that spans education, employment, and social systems.
What is Mental Health?
• Mental health is a state of mental well-being in which an individual can cope with life’s stresses, realize their abilities, learn and work productively, and contribute to society.
• It underpins decision-making, relationship-building, and participation in community life.
• Recognized as a basic human right, it is integral to overall health and development.
Key Aspects of Mental Health
• Emotional Well-being: The ability to identify, understand, and regulate one’s emotions effectively while coping with life’s ups and downs.
• Psychological Well-being: Involves self-awareness, self-worth, and the ability to process thoughts and behaviors constructively.
• Social Well-being: Encompasses forming healthy relationships, engaging in meaningful social interactions, and contributing positively to society.
Why is Mental Health Important?
• Affects overall well-being: Impacts how individuals feel, think, and behave in daily life.
• Improves productivity: Supports learning, focus, cognitive function, and performance in school or at work.
• Connected to physical health: Poor mental health is linked with cardiovascular issues, diabetes, and weakened immunity.
• Promotes healthy relationships: Mental wellness fosters empathy, emotional regulation, and effective communication.
• Prevents chronic mental disorders: Early support can prevent or reduce severity of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and other conditions.
Key Statistics on Mental Health in India
• Over 150 million people in India need mental health interventions (NMHS 2015-16).
• 7.3% of adolescents (13–17 years) face severe mental health conditions.
• Suicide deaths due to mental health rose by 44% between 2018–2022.
• Treatment gap: Over 60% for mental disorders; 86% for alcohol use disorders.
• Shortage of mental health professionals: Only 0.75 psychiatrists per 1 lakh population vs WHO standard of 3 per 1 lakh.
• COVID-19 worsened the situation: 25% rise in suicide-related deaths in 2020 compared to 2019.
Causes of Mental Illness in India
• Socioeconomic Stress: Poverty, unemployment, and inequality lead to chronic stress and poor mental well-being.
• Stigma and Shame: Cultural stigma often deters individuals from seeking help or disclosing mental health problems.
• Academic and Workplace Pressure: Intense competition in academic institutions and job-related burnout contribute to anxiety and depression.
• Family Pressure and Isolation: High parental expectations, strained family dynamics, and weakening traditional support systems cause emotional distress.
• Substance Abuse: Alcohol and drug addiction are both causes and effects of poor mental health.
• Gender Discrimination: Women face a higher burden of depression and anxiety due to violence, marginalization, and unequal access to resources.
• Social Media and Cyberbullying: Excessive use, comparison, and online harassment have psychological consequences, particularly among youth.
Government Policies and Initiatives
• National Mental Health Programme (1982): Strengthens mental health services through District Mental Health Programmes and primary healthcare integration.
• National Mental Health Policy (2014): Promotes prevention, early intervention, community participation, and stigma reduction.
• Mental Healthcare Act (2017): Decriminalizes suicide, guarantees access to mental health care as a right, and mandates parity in insurance coverage.
• Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016): Recognizes mental illness as a disability to ensure inclusive access and protections.
• National Tele Mental Health Programme (2022): Provides 24/7 counseling via the Tele-MANAS helpline (14416), reaching users in 20 languages.
• National Suicide Prevention Strategy (2022): Aims to reduce suicide mortality by 10% by 2030 through multi-sectoral efforts.
Other National and State-Level Efforts
• Ayushman Bharat – HWCs: Offer mental health services at the primary healthcare level.
• Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK): School and peer-led adolescent mental health support.
• KIRAN Helpline (2020): National 24/7 mental health helpline by the Ministry of Social Justice.
• Kerala: First to have a state mental health policy; runs the “Athanippu” program.
• Tamil Nadu: “Mano Amma” provides free psychiatric support.
• Maharashtra: “Mansapurti Yojana” supports rural mental health outreach.
Historical Perspective of Mental Health in India
• Ancient Period:
• Vedas and Ayurveda saw mental health as mind-body balance (e.g., Unmada in Charaka Samhita).
• Spiritual healing through mantras and rituals, e.g., references in Atharva Veda.
• Buddhist/Jain Contributions:
• Mindfulness and self-discipline emphasized in early Buddhist texts like Satipatthana Sutta.
• Mental health shelters were present near monasteries.
• Medieval Period:
• Islamic rulers built hospitals (Dar-ul-Shifa) for the mentally ill in cities like Delhi and Hyderabad.
• Unani medicine focused on emotional balance and herbal treatments.
• Colonial Era:
• First mental asylums established in Bombay (1787) and Ranchi (1918).
• Lunacy Acts (1858, 1912) emphasized control over care.
• Stigma worsened due to custodial and often inhumane treatment.
• Post-Independence:
• Bhore Committee (1946) recommended integrating mental health into general healthcare.
• NMHP launched in 1982; NIMHANS established as a national mental health institute.
Challenges in India’s Mental Health Landscape
• Social stigma and cultural taboos continue to discourage help-seeking.
• Huge treatment gap and severe shortage of psychiatrists and psychologists.
• Lack of mental health infrastructure, especially in rural areas.
• Poor integration of mental health services into general healthcare.
• Weak implementation of policies due to inadequate funding and bureaucratic delays.
• Limited public awareness and low mental health literacy.
Need for Paradigm Shift
• Prevention and Awareness: Mental health education should begin in schools and communities, focusing on self-care and early help-seeking.
• Rights-Based and Inclusive Approach: Policies must address the needs of marginalized groups and ensure protection from discrimination.
• Community-Based Mental Health: Shift from hospital-based care to community outreach programs that are accessible and culturally sensitive.
• Strengthening Research and Data: India needs robust mental health data for informed decision-making and policy design.
Global Best Practices
• WHO Action Plan (2013–2030): Advocates for universal access and integration of mental health into primary care.
• Brazil: Psychosocial Care Centers for community-based care instead of asylums.
• UK: IAPT program trains lay counselors in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
• US: Mental Health Parity Act ensures equal insurance coverage for mental and physical health.
• Australia: “Headspace” youth centers provide holistic care including counseling, vocational support, and peer engagement.
Way Forward
• Expand mental health infrastructure across both rural and urban areas.
• Increase public investment in mental healthcare and training of professionals.
• Promote mental health literacy through campaigns and school curriculum.
• Ensure inclusion of women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and marginalized communities in mental health policies.
• Encourage public-private partnerships and integrate digital tools for tele-counseling and outreach.
• Foster culturally sensitive and locally grounded mental health models.
Conclusion
The recent tragedy at IIT-Delhi is a sobering reminder of the mental health crisis in India. The country must adopt a comprehensive, inclusive, and proactive approach—one that emphasizes early intervention, community-based care, research, and rights-based policy enforcement—to ensure the mental well-being of its population.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/campus-suicides-action-plan-in-the-works-to-improve-student-support-structures-says-iit-delhi-9928896/