Why in News?
- Experts report that around 60% of mental health patients in India are under 35 years, highlighting a growing youth mental health crisis linked to job uncertainty, digital overexposure, and social isolation.
Relevance
GS Paper I – Society
- Youth distress, family change, urbanisation, digitalisation, and social isolation.
- Suicide trends and demographic vulnerability (15–29 age group).
GS Paper II – Governance & Social Sector
- Mental healthcare delivery, treatment gap (75–80%), and public health capacity.
- Role of schools, primary healthcare, and community-based care.
India’s Youth-Dominant Demography
Demographic Context
- India has one of the world’s largest youth populations, making mental health challenges among young adults a public health, economic, and social stability concern.
Shift in Disease Burden
- Mental disorders are increasingly replacing communicable diseases as a major contributor to disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) among working-age populations.
Key Findings — What the Data Shows ?
Age of Onset
- Nearly half of mental illnesses begin before age 25, and a significant proportion before 18 years, indicating the need for early detection and intervention.
Youth Vulnerability
- Adolescents and young adults face heightened vulnerability due to identity formation stress, academic pressure, employment insecurity, and social comparison.
Dominant Mental Health Conditions
Common Disorders
- Depression, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, and behavioural disorders dominate mental health diagnoses among individuals below 35 years.
Gender and Social Patterns
- Young men show higher rates of substance abuse and suicide, while young women report higher depression and anxiety, reflecting social and gendered stressors.
Drivers of the Youth Mental Health Crisis
Job Uncertainty
- Rising unemployment, informal work, and career instability create chronic stress, eroding psychological resilience among young adults.
Academic Pressure
- High-stakes examinations and competitive education systems contribute to performance anxiety and fear of failure.
Digital and Social Factors
Constant Digital Exposure
- Excessive screen time, social media comparison, and information overload increase risks of anxiety, sleep disorders, and reduced attention spans.
Loneliness and Social Isolation
- Urbanisation and nuclear families weaken traditional support systems, intensifying feelings of isolation despite virtual connectivity.
Burden on Health Systems
Treatment Gap
- India faces a 75–80% treatment gap in mental healthcare due to shortage of professionals, stigma, and limited access to affordable services.
Workforce Productivity
- Untreated mental illness reduces labour productivity, employability, and economic growth, especially in a young workforce.
Social Stability and Safety
Suicide Risk
- Suicide remains among the leading causes of death in the 15–29 age group, underscoring the gravity of youth mental health distress.
Intergenerational Impact
- Early-onset mental illness affects education, family stability, and long-term wellbeing, creating cumulative social costs.
Preventive and Early Intervention Strategies
Early Screening
- Integrating mental health screening in schools, colleges, and primary healthcare can enable early diagnosis and timely support.
Community-Based Care
- Decentralised, community-led mental health services can reduce stigma and improve access, especially in rural and underserved areas.
Systemic Reforms
Human Resource Expansion
- India must scale up psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric social workers, and counsellors to meet growing demand.
Digital Mental Health
- Tele-mental health platforms can bridge access gaps if combined with ethical safeguards, quality control, and privacy protections.
Developmental and Ethical Significance
- Youth mental health is foundational to demographic dividend realisation, social cohesion, and sustainable development.
- Addressing mental illness early reflects the state’s commitment to human dignity, preventive healthcare, and inclusive growth.
NCRB Suicide Data
Total Suicides (Latest)
- India recorded 171,418 suicides in 2023, a 0.3% increase from 2022 (170,924).
Trend Over Time
- Suicides rose 27% over the past decade, from ~135,000 in 2013 to ~171,000 in 2023.
Methods
- Nearly 60% of suicides involve hanging, the most common method.
State Variations
- Suicide rates vary greatly; for 2023:
- Kerala’s rate ~30.6 per 1 lakh population
- Telangana ~27.7; Chhattisgarh ~26.0
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands among highest in UTs (~49.6).
Urban Suicide Hotspots
- Among cities in 2023, Delhi (3,131) reported the highest suicides, followed by Bengaluru (2,370) and Mumbai (1,415).
Gender Disparity
- Nationally, more men than women die by suicide; city-level ratios show nearly 3:1 (male:female) in urban centres.
Farm Sector Suicides
- In 2023, 10,786 farmers & agricultural labourers died by suicide, constituting ~6.3% of total suicides; Maharashtra accounted for 38% of these.
Student Suicides
- Student suicides have sharply increased over the past decade, rising by ~65% from 2013 to 2023.
