Depression, stress, and anxiety
In India, every seventh person suffers from some form of mental disorder. The epidemiology of mental disorders, specifically, depression on a global scale, has been vastly studied. Today, it is regarded as the leading contributor to disease burden and morbidity worldwide, that may even result in suicide if left untreated. Risk factors, relative to developing depressive and anxiety disorders, include bullying victimization, childhood sexual abuse, intimate partner violence, and lead exposure as an environmental risk factor which can lead to idiopathic developmental intellectual disability. Further, chronic levels of unmanaged stress and anxiety are known to take a toll on the physical and mental health of an individual. A recent study reflected that 74% of Indians suffered from stress while 88% suffered from some kind of anxiety disorder. Some of the symptoms include increased heart rates, hyperventilation, chronic fatigue and difficulties with concentration. Studies reported a significant increase in the number of cases of stress and anxiety among Indians since the pandemic.Pandemic triggered mental health
The implications of living in quarantine, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in India was not only a stress trigger but also had negative psychological effects on the population. Indians learned to adapt to the new normal which affected every dimension of their lifestyle, i.e. levels of physical activity, sleep cycles, nutrition, and their social lives. In an attempt to cope with this paradigm shift, long bouts of stress caused by enforced isolation, financial stress, job cuts, along with unhealthy lifestyles were the precursors for depression and anxiety.Futher, cases of work-related stress have sky rocketed in India. A recent survey reflected that close to 90 percent of Indians felt that information overload along with scattered information contributed to highest levels of stress among working professionals. Literacy about mental health at the workplace is the portal for addressing mental health conditions followed by timely interventions. Workplace stress is said to be the next growing epidemic, and if neglected could have dire consequences for India’s economy.
