A recent report by a mental health organisation said that not only do people delay seeking help, many contemplated self-harm. The report also found that 94.9 per cent reported two or more concerns at once. It is rightly said that India’s so-called progress in mental health must be judged by whether people can get timely, effective care, not simply by how openly we talk about it. 

This report cited an abysmal 11.3 per cent who reached care within a month of experiencing concerns. Some respondents resorted to alcohol, other harmful substances before they accessed professional support. Other coping strategies included excessive screen time, oversleeping, and overworking, the report said. More than half the respondents also said they had experienced thoughts of self-harm before seeking care, the report said.