The State Of Mental Health In India
The first-ever National Mental Health Survey (NMHS-1) (PDF link) in India was completed in 2015–2016. The survey, which covered 12 states, gave some insights into the state of mental health in the country. Here are some highlights:
- Common mental disorders like depression and anxiety are widely prevalent and affect nearly 10% of the population.
- Prevalence of mental health issues was 2–3 times higher in urban areas and metropolitan regions.
- Nearly 15 crore Indians need active medical intervention to deal with mental illnesses and disorders.
- Productive individuals, particularly males in the age group of 30–49 years, are nearly twice as likely to suffer from mental health issues.
- The treatment gap is 84.5%, meaning only around 15% of the individuals get the necessary treatment.
These figures provide a useful baseline for gauging the state of mental health in India. The second edition of the survey – NMHS-2 – is expected to be completed by the end of 2025 and will offer deeper insights as it will cover almost all the states in the country.
The Link Between Mental Health And The Workplace
Numerous factors can affect the mental health of individuals. Genetics, substance abuse, interpersonal relationships and social pressure can contribute to the decline in well-being.
Since individuals spend a significant portion of their adult life in the workplace, it can often play a decisive role in their state of mental health. Safe, healthy and supportive workplaces can promote mental health and well-being.
Conversely, poor working environments can add stress and pose a significant risk to the mental health of employees. The World Health Organisation identifies the following factors as hallmarks of a poor working environment:
- Excessive workloads and long, inflexible work hours
- Lack of control over work and poor work-life balance
- Unsafe working conditions
- Limited support from management or supervisors
- Risk of violence, harassment and bullying
- Discrimination or exclusion, particularly in terms of salaries or promotion
- Lack of job security, low pay, absence of career growth opportunities
Several surveys have revealed concerning results about the impact on employee mental health from poor workplace conditions. In a 2022 McKinsey Health survey, at least 40% of Indian employees were reported to be at risk of burnout or depression due to workplace issues.
Toxic workplace behaviour from managers and colleagues was the main factor, followed by a lack of work-life balance. Indian employees were 60% more likely to leave their current jobs due to negative workplaces when compared to their global counterparts.
Two Reasons For The Growing Importance Of Mental Health In The Workplace
Aside from purely ethical considerations, it is quite necessary to make a business focus on mental health in the workplace. In the Indian context, you can no longer afford to ignore the mental health aspects of your employees for the following main reasons:
Poor mental health can affect productivity
An academic review of 38 different studies between 2008 and 2020 show a clear link between poor mental health and productivity losses in the workplace. Depression, anxiety and other stress-related disorders can affect a person’s general health and lead to reduced work output and absenteeism.
According to WHO estimates, mental health issues in India lead to the loss of 2,443 healthy life years from every 1 lakh Indians (disability adjusted life years or DALYs). Mental health conditions may cost the economy up to 1 lakh crore dollars between 2010 and 2030.
Meanwhile, investing in employee wellness can actually make your organisation more profitable in the long run. An Oxford University study using workplace well-being data from Indeed established that companies with high well-being scores outperformed major benchmarks like the S&P 500 and Dow Jones.
Employees expectations are changing
Employee and jobseeker expectations have seen some radical shifts since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals are more concerned than ever before about issues like work-life balance, psychological safety and wellness initiatives.
An overview of employee expectations in India reveal that about 60% of employees are willing to take a pay cut or pay rise to achieve better work-life balance.
They prefer organisations that promote mental health, diversity and inclusion, and are less likely to stay for long at companies that neglect these aspects. Mental health was one of the top five concerns of Gen-Z, along with cost of living, climate change, unemployment and sexual harassment.
What Can Employers Do To Improve Mental Health In The Workplace?
In October 2022, during the height of the COVID pandemic, the US Surgeon General released a framework to specify the role workplaces and employers can play in promoting the mental health and well-being of employees.
The core principles outlined in the framework can help you develop and update your organisational policies and processes to create a more positive and supportive workplace for your employees. They include the following principles:
- Protection from harm: Instead of solely focusing on physical safety, also consider aspects like psychological safety. Encourage dialogue on mental health and provide adequate support mechanisms like mental health days, access to counselling and protection from overwork.
- Inclusion and belonging: Try to foster a workplace culture that encourages diversity, inclusion and positive social interactions. Prioritising inclusion and belonging can help to boost employee satisfaction and improve collaboration.
- Improve work-life balance: The statistics indicate that improved work-life balance is a high priority for most workers in India. Flexible work hours, greater autonomy and a clear demarcation between office hours and personal time can help to safeguard the mental health of employees.
- Career growth opportunities: Employee upskilling and mentoring initiatives can help in improving job satisfaction and loyalty to the organisation. Many jobseekers in India consider “growth opportunities” as an integral part of a “great workplace.”
As you can see from these suggestions, mental health is a very complex matter that can be influenced by a diverse array of workplace factors. The good news is that you have many opportunities to make a difference, ranging from minor adjustments like flexible hours to major overhauls that address issues with your company culture.
