Many recent studies show that the number of people affected by mental health issues are on the rise. The National Mental Health Survey conducted by NIMHANS in 2016 found that close to 14 per cent of India’s population required active mental health interventions. The Survey reported that nearly 70-80 per cent of those with mental illness in India received no treatment and estimated that only one out of 10 people with mental health disorders received evidence-based treatments in India.

According to ‘The Global Burden of Disease Study 1990 – 2017’, 19.73 crore people were suffering from various mental disorders in India, that is one in seven Indians. The country saw a two-fold increase in the diseases contributed by mental disorders – the total disease burden in India increased from 2.5 per cent in 1990 to 4.7 per cent in 2017.

In October 2021, a study in Lancet reported a 35 per cent increase in mental health problems in India. The WHO predicts that by end of this year, 2022, roughly 20 per cent of India will suffer from mental illnesses. According to the WHO, 5.6 crore Indians suffer from depression and another 3.8 crore suffer from anxiety disorders. WHO estimates that, in India, the economic loss, due to mental health conditions, between 2012-2030, is 1.03 trillion dollars (at 2010-dollar rate).  Climate change and the recent pandemic, along with the latest ongoing war on Ukraine are all potential triggers for mental health issues as more and more reports of rising concerns in mental health are being reported worldwide and in our country. 

We spend most of our waking hours at work, be it remote, hybrid or online. The workplace has its own demands and priorities. Mental health issues can be triggered by stress, one of the outcomes of urban life. There is a lot that can be done at workplaces to identify, facilitate timely diagnosis, and address mental health concerns. This intervention is a positive and active step towards better mental health at the workplace, and by the workplace. 

The belief system in the Indian society stems from the Indian Schools of Philosophy (the Shad Darshana – 6 schools of philosophy).. Among these the Yoga School of philosophy is relevant to us because it focuses on the individual in a very scientific and practical manner without being prescriptive. It gives a rich vocabulary to articulate, explain and establish the internal paradigm in human beings and explains how our engagement with the external world impacts it.

The Yoga Sutra by Maharishi Patanjali is a collection of 196 short verses that serve as a guide to attain wisdom and self-realization through yoga. It is one of the most important texts of the Yoga school of Indian philosophy. The WMHCP is inspired by the Yoga Sutra which is a practical guide in Indian psychology and integrates the knowledge with modern scientific methods.

Understand the important aspects of mental health, recognize mental health concerns, and guide their workplace regarding the identification and crucial first steps to be taken in case of a potential mental health situation.