GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

In India, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 1 in 7 adults require care for one or more mental health conditions. Despite this enormous need, there is a dearth of Indian mental health professionals. Indeed, we know many mental health conditions can be effectively treated at relatively low cost, yet the gap between people needing care and those with access to care remains substantial.

With respect to depression alone, estimates suggest at least 280 million people worldwide are currently affected. In 2017, before the covid-19 pandemic, the WHO labelled India the world’s “most depressed country”. While India’s rank has improved in the intervening years, depression, anxiety, and a multitude of other mental health issues still exert tremendous personal and societal costs.

• Derick H. Lindquist, Ph.D., Professor and Dean, Jindal School of Psychology &
  Counselling