According to a study conducted by a healthcare technology company, the number of Indian women seeking help for their mental health has increased significantly in recent years. Almost 62% of consultation seekers were women ages 25–34, with those ages 35–44 making up 16.5%. Women between the ages of 18 and 24 made up about 16% of all psychiatric patients. The most dramatic increase in visits was in the youngest age bracket, where consultations increased by up to 59% over the previous year. Withdrawal symptoms, stress, panic, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance misuse, food disorders, and suicidal thoughts and actions were found to be among the most often mentioned issues.
Substance misuse, emotional and physical abuse by a partner, and the pressure to succeed professionally and at home were cited as common causes of mental health problems among this age group. Promoting gender equality and economic possibilities, as well as raising awareness and expanding access to mental health care, are all vital steps towards resolving these problems.
In the Union Budget 2023, the Ministry of Health requested and received funding for the amount of 133.73 crore to implement the National Tele Mental Health Programme. Experts, mental health consultants, and doctors all agree that stress management education and resources need to be made available to students, faculty, and staff as early as possible. To better understand the causes of and provide effective treatments for mental health issues, they believe the government should increase funding for mental health research.
