[TedDoesntTalk]

I’ve been told by several Indian colleagues that mental health services in India are taboo, and generally reserved for the high dysfunctional who cannot be an active part in society (think very schizophrenic, for example).

Is that accurate or old information?

[kylehotchkiss]

(Former expat who spent a few years living near Delhi) you’d never see a person going crazy on the streets in India like they do in California. Their government provides some services to help people in those situations. Many families provide support to members with a mental illness.

However there’s little safety nets if you lose your job and your family relies on you, there aren’t as many chances to “catch up” or “get back on your feet” like you could in developed countries which does lead to suicide when people struggle with school or jobs. This unfortunately impacted many in the early Covid days. That looming fear of “one mistake and this all is over” is just a lot of weight to hold on your shoulders.

Indian readers, this is just my interpretation of things from spending several years living there. Please point out any inaccuracies in my thoughts as I’m still interested in understanding these issues better.

[seanmcdirmid]

> you’d never see a person going crazy on the streets in India like they do in California.

I’ve visited Delhi before, and at the time was accosted by a seemingly insane beggar. I have yet to visit a developing country that didn’t have a few crazy people on the streets.

[nnain]

The awareness is growing now, especially in the internet generation. A lot of people in rural areas are quite out of touch with basic healthcare, let alone mental healthcare. India is too big to generalise: from Instagram influencers to beggars (watching whom will break your heart), there's a whole everything.