New Delhi: As India projects itself as a future Vishwa Guru, a quieter crisis is tightening its grip on the country’s youth—one that rarely makes headlines but is hollowing out lives from within. Mental health disorders are rising at an alarming pace, particularly among young Indians, driven by relentless competition, unemployment, exam pressure, and an increasingly isolating digital lifestyle.

Recent observations highlighted by the Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS) show that nearly 60 per cent of mental health cases are now reported among people aged 35 years and below. Psychiatrists warn that this trend reflects a deeper societal failure to recognise, accept, and treat mental illness at an early stage.

Dr Nimish G Desai, senior psychiatrist and former Director of the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), said the situation among the youth is deeply disturbing. “Mental health problems in young people are increasing rapidly. Even today, mental health is not taken seriously in society. Early symptoms are ignored, people do not see it as a disease, and as a result, many cases worsen and turn into severe mental disorders,” he said.

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A 13-year-old girl was found dead inside her home in Gurugram in a case that has once again thrown the spotlight on the mounting academic pressure faced by schoolchildren. Police suspect suicide, with preliminary findings pointing to stress related to studies.

The teenager, identified as Aditi, was discovered in her room on the morning of January 29 after her mother was unable to wake her. The door was locked from inside, and repeated calls went unanswered. On peering through a window, the mother saw the child hanging from a ceiling fan. Police were alerted immediately, and the body was sent for post-mortem examination.

Investigators recovered a diary from the room that offered troubling insight into the child’s state of mind. According to police, Aditi had written about anxiety over her academics and had begun withdrawing from friends. In one entry, she mentioned an examination scheduled for Thursday and expressed confusion and fear about how to begin preparing.

“A reading of the diary suggests emotional distress and anxiety linked to academic pressure. There are also references to social withdrawal,” a senior police officer said.

Aditi had moved from Lucknow to Gurugram in April 2025 and was studying in Class 9 at a private school. Her mother works in a government department in Hardoi, while her father is employed with a private firm in Bengaluru.

Police said no foul play is suspected so far, and further investigation is underway to establish the circumstances leading up to the incident.

Global and national data underline the gravity of the problem. According to UNICEF, about 7.3 per cent of young people in the 18–29 age group in India are struggling with mental health conditions. Alarmingly, only a small fraction seek professional help, indicating that the crisis is silently worsening and emerging as a major public health challenge.

Experts caution that failure to act decisively could turn this into a full-blown social and economic crisis. Findings from the National Mental Health Survey, presented in Parliament by the Health Ministry and the Bengaluru-based National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), have raised serious warning signals. The survey points to competition, exam stress, social pressures, and digital living as key triggers for deteriorating mental health among young Indians.

The situation is particularly grim in urban centres like Delhi. According to Sr Dr Sharad from Aakash Hospital, Delhi, mental health services remain grossly underutilised. “The National Mental Health Survey shows that the majority of people suffering from mental health issues in Delhi hardly reach out for medical help. The treatment gap is over 60 per cent, and for common conditions like depression and anxiety, it is as high as 80 to 85 per cent,” he said.

Nationally, more than 80 per cent of psychiatric patients do not receive timely care, and nearly 85 per cent of individuals suffering from mental disorders neither seek nor receive treatment. The Lancet Psychiatry–Global Burden of Disease Study (2017) estimated that around 19.73 crore Indians—about 14.3 per cent of the population—were affected by one or another mental health condition. Of these, approximately 4.57 crore suffered from depression and 4.49 crore from anxiety disorders.

In the Capital, the crisis extends to children and adolescents as well. Studies indicate that 25.92 per cent of school-going children show symptoms of depression, while 13.70 per cent are affected by anxiety disorders. Among adults, especially those aged 26 to 40, anxiety, relationship stress, and work-related pressures dominate, with more than 80 per cent still not receiving timely psychiatric care.

The IPS estimates that around 15 per cent of India’s adult population requires mental health intervention at some point, with a lifetime prevalence of mental disorders at 13.7 per cent—roughly 14 out of every 100 people. Urban prevalence remains significantly higher than in rural areas, and women are disproportionately affected, with nearly 20 per cent experiencing conditions such as depression and anxiety, compared to 10 per cent among men.

Calling for urgent action, the Indian Psychiatric Society has stressed the need to integrate mental health services into primary healthcare and substantially increase budgetary allocation. It has also highlighted the role of Tele-MANAS, the national mental health helpline, which has handled over 14.7 lakh calls in the past two years.

Mental health experts insist that tackling the crisis will require more than hospitals and helplines. A “whole-of-community” approach—combining awareness, early detection, accessible care, and social support—is now essential, they say, if India is to prevent a silent epidemic from undermining its demographic dividend.

(Cover Photo Credit: CANVA)