URBAN MENTAL HEALTH IN INDIA

Mental illness has always been a taboo in our country. People living in urban and rural areas are suffering from mental illness from various factors. In a survey by the National Mental Health Survey, it shows that urban areas are most affected. An estimated one million Indians are in need of mental health treatment and care. Urbanisation and increasing competition in this fast-paced world have made people so busy and stressful that people ignore their mental well being. Urbanisation brings with it both advantages and disadvantages. Population growth, overcrowded, pollution, violence, less social and mental support, the breakdown of support systems, complexities of living and economic instability affects one's mental health. The way of living has got changed due to changing economic growth. Transformation from rural to urban societies is considered one of the reasons of psychological disorder and stress-related issues. When people move they need more facilities and infrastructure but these do not happen in alignment hence due to lack of infrastructure and risk of poverty and less social support makes them vulnerable to mental disorders. Most people with dementia live in developing countries. Mental morbidity is found to be very high in urban centres because there is a higher prevalence of schizophrenia, mood disorders and other stress-related

disorders. The rate of mortality is 1.6 times higher than the normal rate of people suffering from severe mental illness. They also have higher risks of developing cancers than normal rate. One in 20 suffers from depression and mental disorder like depression and anxiety are as high as 10 % in the total population. Prevalence of mental illness is higher among males but the certain mental illness like mood disorders are more in females.

Neurosis and stress-related illness are also seen to be more in females. The survey by National Mental Health shows that at least 13.7% of India’s general population has various mental disorders and around 10.6% of them require immediate treatment. Those suffering mental illness sometimes tends to deal with it itself. They turn alcoholic. This is one

of the reasons we get to hear about increasing suicides in our country. Many others start living isolated. The mentally ill people are often neglected. These people are the ones who need more importance and the need for company. Friends, a family should encourage and support them. There are Bollywood movies like Kartik calling Kartik, Woh Lamhe, that showed people with depression, schizophrenia and through such movies, one can hope that society will become more considerate and accept towards such people. It is our duty to be more sensitive towards them and extend help and support.