State of Mind
India

The background on October Health's State of Mind Report

The world is facing a growing mental health crisis.

India is currently facing a growing mental health crisis, with estimates suggesting that nearly one in five Indians will experience mental health issues at some point in their lives. Several factors contribute to this situation, including socioeconomic challenges, stigma, and limited access to mental healthcare. Despite economic growth, many Indians face significant stress from poverty, unemployment, and inequality, which can exacerbate mental health issues. Furthermore, cultural stigmas surrounding mental illness often discourage individuals from seeking help, leading to untreated conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders.

India's mental healthcare system is under-resourced, with fewer than 9,000 psychiatrists available for the entire population of over 1.4 billion people. This shortage is compounded by unequal distribution, with rural areas particularly lacking in mental health services. Addressing these challenges requires substantial investment in mental health infrastructure, including the training of more professionals and integration of mental health services into primary healthcare. Increased government funding and public awareness campaigns can play crucial roles in reducing stigma and promoting mental wellness. Enhancing digital mental health solutions like October can also provide scalable support to underserved communities, offering a promising avenue for expanding access to care.

Businesses are suffering without realising

Poor mental health has extremely significant costs to businesses:

• Lost productivity. Employees with mental health issues like depression, anxiety, or substance use disorders may be less productive and miss more work. This lost productivity results in lower output and revenue for businesses. Estimates suggest mental health problems reduce productivity and economic growth by up to 4% per year.
• Presenteeism. Some employees may come to work but not be fully productive due to poor mental health. This "presenteeism" still costs businesses money in the form of reduced performance and effectiveness. Presenteeism can be harder for employers to detect but can be even more costly than absenteeism.
• Higher healthcare costs. When mental health issues go untreated, they can lead to more severe health problems and higher healthcare costs. For example, untreated depression can increase the risk of chronic physical health issues, resulting in greater spending on healthcare premiums and services. Providing mental health benefits could help address issues early and reduce long-term healthcare costs.
• Recruitment and retention challenges. If a company does not provide adequate mental health support, it may struggle to attract and retain top talent. In today's market, mental health benefits and a supportive work culture are appealing to employees and candidates. When people's needs are met, they are more likely to join and stay at a company, which reduces costly turnover.
• Safety and risk issues. Poor mental health can impact judgment, focus, and decision making, which may put employee and public safety at risk in some jobs. Proactively supporting mental health and monitoring risks is important for companies where safety is a concern. Doing so could help prevent dangerous incidents and legal issues.