It is as disappointing as a psychologist to know how people shy away despite being needy about something that is bothering them mentally. With time, experience, and study, there seem to be various reasons that explain this reluctance of avoidance in seeking
help:
1. The Stigma Is Still Powerful:
The stigma surrounding mental health is still quite strong in India. In most cases, mental illness is seen as a lack of personal strength and even as something shameful rather than a medical condition that should be treated. Families do not like to come out and speak about the fact that one of the members could be suffering because they are scared of the social consequences. People hide their sufferings, fearful of being judged or boycotted by society.
The stigma does not stop there, however. It affects families and communities as a whole. I have seen patients whose relatives discouraged them from coming in because they feared being branded "crazy" or "mentally unfit." Mental illness is still, in this light, a flaw in character rather than a medical condition as such.
2.Ignorance:
There is a huge problem about education in mental health. Many people do not recognize the symptoms of mental illness. Depression might be seen as being sad, or anxiety as too much worrying and being nervous. People continue suffering from the situation because they do not know when to
go for help; by the time they do, the illness may have progressed much.
These can range from failure at the school level to even a hospital. None of these places aspires to recognize, learn about, or educate others about mental health issues. For decades, I have encountered folks who were never informed that they could get appropriate therapy or medication
for their mental health problems. It feeds suffering.
3. Cultural and Religious Misunderstandings:
In many parts of India, mental illness is perceived behind spiritual or religious goggles. Some relate mental disorders to their perceived spiritual crises or karma, and instead of consulting doctors, they seek cure through religious healers or traditional healers. Such behaviors are certainly culturally rich but often delay or replace medical interventions that could effectively manage the condition.
4. Economic Barriers and Healthcare Infrastructure:
India has an extremely low number of professionals working in mental health. With only **0.75 psychiatrists per 100,000 people**, India stands miles below the world average. Quality mental health care is not available in the rural areas; 60% of India's population lives in rural areas.
In addition, most families cannot afford periodic therapy as well as psychiatric medication. Even in my practice, I have encountered patients that could not continue the treatments due to financial constraint; they knew what needed to be done but could not afford to do so. For the poor, mental health is a luxury.
5. Fear of Professional Consequences:
A common apprehension that I have come across is the fear of impacting one's career due to mental health treatment. A confession of mental health issues in competitive workplaces creates a connotation of weakness, and this confession may result in a loss in promotion or even the job at hand. With the kind of pressure required in a country like India, professional treatment tends to be forsaken, and they fear being considered unfit and unable to take up their responsibilities.
It has no profession-set, so whether it's the new generation in IT-related professions, managers, or government employees, the fear of being seen as "mentally weak" cuts across all professions.