A rising tide of mental health issues grips India's populace.
With its ever-increasing population and diverse demographics, India signals toward a substantial mental health burden that demands urgent attention. In the wake of rapid urbanization, the country faces a challenging mental health crisis, with millions suffering. Between 2012-2030, economic losses due to mental health conditions are projected at USD 1.03 trillion. Depression alone affects 45.7 million people, while anxiety disorders afflict 44.9 million, impacting more than 14 percent of India's population.
Mental health disorders cut across various age groups, geographical regions, and socioeconomic backgrounds, impacting and effecting individuals from different walks of life. The consequences of these conditions include personal suffering, disrupt daily functioning, and increasing societal costs.
Mental health disorders in India have been on the rise, contributing highly to public health concern. As per reports, nearly 15% of the Indian population struggles with some form of mental health issue. This figure covers several disorders ranging from anxiety, depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, substance use and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Addressing these mental health issues, therefore, becomes important for maintaining the well-being of those affected and for the country's overall progress and development.
The paradigm shift to rapid urbanization has attracted the attention of demographers, sociologists, scientists, and politicians. Urbanization brings with it its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Though it has been driving the economies of most nations, it becomes a serious concern when it comes to its impact on the mental health of individuals.
Most South Asian countries, characterized by a developing economy and a significant proportion of population still living below poverty line, tend to have a higher burden of diseases with a compromised healthcare system. Urbanization brings with it an enormous range of disorders like psychosis, depression, sociopathy, alcoholism, vandalism, family disintegration, crime and substance abuse. Thus, urbanization leads to a heterogenous mix of problems and has been affecting a very large section of the population, especially in the most vulnerable sections of society- elderly, children, adolescents, and women.
This phenomenon has also led to the creation of ‘fringe population’, consisting of individuals living from hand to mouth which further adds to poverty. We must understand that poverty and mental health share a complex and multidimensional relationship. The urban population is severely impacted by the changing cultural dynamics which lead to psychiatric problems like depression, delinquency, and alcoholism. Therefore, a judicious use of resources, sound government policies, and a balanced approach to development is the most essential in this regard.
Available data highlight a range of urban health hazards and associated health risks including substandard housing, air pollution, insufficient or contaminated drinking water and stress associated with poverty and unemployment, among a range of other factors.
Rapid urbanization has brought with it increased speed and decreased costs of transportation and communication, with fast-paced growth of cities. As a result, cultural factors have begun to take center stage in understanding urban mental health. It is often discussed whether this increased scale and proportion of cities has exceeded human capabilities to live under conditions of security and mutual concern and support. Some also feel this scale of urbanization has been forcing individuals to yield to anonymity, indifference and narrowed self-interest. There have been increasing commentaries on the growing fear, powerlessness, and anger among urban residents.
Long story short, urbanization has led to the gradual breakdown of a cohesive social support system.
City dwellers are generally exposed to several conditions, circumstances, and challenges that may severely impact their mental health. Some of these potential risks include:
Genetic susceptibility
Air and noise pollution
Social isolation
High population density and increased cost of living
Social inequalities
Traffic congestion
Lack of green spaces
Low quality housing and lack of a proper urban design
Amidst these urban challenges, it becomes very important to adopt coping strategies that can help build resilience, establish balance, and nurture your mental wellbeing. These strategies include several techniques that can effectively contribute to good mental health.
Spending time in green spaces can have positive effects on your mental health and hence it becomes important to prioritize this. You could incorporate brief nature breaks into your daily routine. Such activities include visiting a park or a garden cafe, which effectively contribute to recharging and revitalizing.
If you find it difficult to take time outside of work or your job, you can easily benefit from nature-related stimuli. For instance, you could try watching elements of nature on a screen or try getting houseplants. These activities significantly enhance your physiological relaxation.
Exposure to nature-display stimuli like green plants or flowers positively affects prefrontal cortexes and autonomic nervous activities. These effects highly improve emoti
onal regulation and the way you think.
You may also use creative solutions to overcome limited space constraints. For instance, you can use mirrors or harmonious colors to make your indoor areas look more peaceful and calming.
Gardening at home is also another way to enhance your sense of connection with nature. According to research, regular gardening can lower your chance of experiencing depression.
Allow yourself time for pure relaxation, keeping yourself free from external stimuli like television, podcasts or music. This is very important for your mental health. These practices embody the yogic concept of Pratyahara. This involves withdrawing your senses from external distractions to cultivate inner peace. This practice aims to calm the mind, reduce sensory overload, and positively impact your mental health.
Some additional coping strategies include the following:
Making use of stress-reduction techniques
Participating in community events
Building support networks
Strengthening social connections
Engaging in regular physical activities
Doing reflection activities
Building mindfulness skills
Prioritizing self-care practices in your daily life
Living in a city certainly impacts your mental health in some way or the other. To conclude, while urbanization offers diverse resources, opportunities and experiences, they also expose you to challenges like social isolation, lack of green spaces and pollution. Therefore, strategies to thrive in a city largely include connecting to nature, prioritizing self-care and building social connections.
If you have been experiencing prolonged stress, you may also wish to consider getting help from a mental health professional.
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