Mental Health and the Country’s Economic Future

Context

The Economic Survey 2024-25 highlights the connection between mental health and the country’s economic future, emphasizing its effect on productiveness, economic growth, and common well-being.

Understanding Mental Wellbeing

• The survey highlights how mental well-being influences workplace performance, way of life decisions, and national economic progress.
• The survey defines mental properly-being as a multidimensional idea that includes:
  • Emotional health: Managing pressure and emotions correctly.
  • Social health: Building healthful relationships and a supportive community.
  • Cognitive health: Enhancing awareness, decision-making, and hassle-solving skills. 
  • Physical health: Maintaining universal health via a wholesome life-style.

Rise in Mental Health Issues Among Youth

• Excessive internet & social media use: Leads to tension, sleep issues, and interest issues.
• Lack of circle of relatives engagement: Weak social assistance systems negatively impact emotional properly-being.
• Hostile offices & lengthy working hours: Cause burnout, strain, and decreased productivity.
• Unhealthy life-style picks: Ultra-processed foods and shortage of physical activity get worse mental and physical health.

Mental Health and Economic Growth

• Hostile work cultures and excessive hours spent operating on the table can adversely have an effect on mental well-being and in the long run put the brakes on the pace of monetary increase.
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that mental health issues ought to result in an economic loss of $1.03 trillion for India between 2012 and 2030.
• India’s demographic dividend is driving on skill, education, physical health and, specifically, mental health of its teenagers.

Suggestions

• A high-quality work environment can improve mental health.
• It requires interventions at both school and circle of relatives tiers to encourage more healthy lifestyles.
• Promoting outdoor activities, building friendships, and strengthening circle of relatives relationships can assist lessen internet overuse and improve mental well-being.

India’s Mental Health Landscape 

• For the first time ever, the Economic Survey 2023-24 pointed out mental health, its importance and implications on coverage suggestions.
• As per the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) 2015-16, 10.6% adults in India suffered from mental problems even as treatment gap for mental disorders ranged between 70% and 92%. 
  • The prevalence of mental morbidity became higher in urban metro regions (13.5%) in comparison to rural areas (6.9%).
• Lack of Psychiatrists in India: The World Health Organization’s recommendations state that there have to be as a minimum 3 training psychiatrists according to one lakh population. 
  • As per the present day National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) 2015 and 2016, India has only 0.75 psychiatrists per 1 lakh population.

Conclusion

• Mental health is important for each non-public and societal improvement.
• Governments, employers, and agencies have to keep efforts to enhance mental health care access and lower stigma.
• India is making strides in mental health with regulations and packages to deal with challenges and bridge treatment gaps.

Source: The Indian Express

UPSC Mains Practice Question

 Q. In order to enhance the prospects of social development, sound and adequate health care policies are needed particularly in the fields of geriatric and maternal health care.Discuss. (2020)

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