14 October,2026 07:59 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi Alurkar
A young detainee convulses on the floor of the Tardeo police station on October 11. Pic/By Special Arrangement
Over the past three months, since the July 20 NEET-related protest, the city's youth have seen and participated in at least five protests. While many characterised Mumbai's protests as calmer than those seen in the national capital, the youth did face police detentions, with nearly 300 Mumbaikars being detained in the October 11 protests.
In such cases, one may be coping with anxiety, panic attacks, sleepless nights, and desensitisation, among other things, as per experts. One such case was seen on Sunday, where a man detained by the police at Tardeo faced what many described as a panic attack and had to be taken to the hospital.
One Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) member said that their friend has begun seeking medical help for her mental health after she started receiving calls from the police before the October protest. "She didn't even plan on attending the October protests, but the authorities reached out to her because she took part in the NEET protests," explained Kunal Karmerkar, Thane coordinator of CJP.
mid-day spoke with mental health experts to understand the reasons why students are taking to the streets more and more, and what could be the repercussions of this.
"Students today are living in an age of uncertainty. Moreover, this age group is idealistic and looks forward to changing the world," explained Dr Dayal Mirchandani, a psychiatrist.
Even when certain students may not attend a protest, they may feel the impact of it because they identify with the age group, explained Dr Mirchandani. "Violence from the police and other authority figures could lead to PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder], second-hand PTSD, insomnia, changes in behaviour, and even a change in their voting patterns. Witnessing a serious accident can cause trauma, secondary trauma or vicarious trauma, even if you were not physically hurt yourself. In such cases, it is crucial to seek help from professionals," he added.
"Speaking to close friends, expressing your emotions, and, as difficult as they may be, distancing yourself from triggering situations can help in the moment. It is still crucial to seek professional help," he added.
Seeing brutality in general can also lead to aggressive behaviour, while youngsters may also face cases of anxiety and panic, say experts.
Mumbai-based psychiatrist Dr Naazneen Ladak explained that breathwork, grounding techniques like counting backwards, talking to close friends, and holding ice can all be temporary sources of relief. It is, however, very essential to seek professional help.
During these protests, many parents also brought their aged five to 10 to understand the movement. "While the parents may be hoping to instil values within their kids, such young children may not understand the full picture. If young children were to witness violence during the protests, they may understand the âwhat' and not understand the âwhy' of the scenario," said Dr Ladak.
It is best to avoid bringing very young children to these protests, she explained. "Just like movies have an age bar, bringing extra information can break their theory of confidence as they are too young to relate to why they are just seeing such actions," she added.
Dr Harish Shetty, psychiatrist at Dr LH Hiranandani hospital, explained that the youth of the country are focused on building their future within the current framework. "The protests have come as a relief for students who live in an angst-driven city. It is a way for them to express their anger and anxieties, but have also become a site of voyeurism for many," he said.
Dr Shetty added, "The youth will have to look at hard solutions on a consistent basis instead of outbursts. Anxiety and panic attacks can be a result of these protests, and students should seek help from a professional if they face these symptoms."
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