Six in 10 urban Indians think mental health is as important as physical wellbeing: Report

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An overwhelming majority of urban Indians and global citizens prioritize physical wellbeing over mental health, says a study by market research firm Ipsos.

As per the study, as many as 71% urban Indians and 68% global citizens said they think about their physical wellbeing often. However, personal concern for mental wellbeing was comparatively lower, both among urban Indians (61%) and global citizens (53%).

When asked to choose between mental and physical wellbeing, “at least 79% global citizens lay emphasis on the importance of both mental and physical wellbeing equally. 6 in 10 urban Indians too chose both mental and physical wellbeing equally in importance,” the survey said.

Mental stigma?

In India, mental health is a subject that comes with a set of stigmas, because of which many people avoid taking medical treatment. The survey showed that the views were quite divided, both among global citizens and urban Indians.

Only 18% of the urban Indians feel that our healthcare system would rate mental wellbeing over physical health. On the contrary, 37% of the urban Indians feel that both mental and physical wellbeing would be given equal importance.

Globally, 42% of the citizens think that their country healthcare systems feel physical wellbeing is more important, 35% think both mental and physical wellbeing are given equal importance, and only 9% feel that mental health is given more importance.

Mental Health insurance in India

Mental illnesses did not come under insurance purview until April 7, 2017, after which the Mental Healthcare Act (2017) was passed. Due to growing cases of mental illness including depression, finally, it came into force on July 7, 2018, with Section 21(4) of the Act stating that “every insurer shall make provision for medical insurance for treatment of mental illness on the same basis as is available for the treatment of physical illness.” We have come a long way but still, not all insurers are covering the mental health of the insured.

Besides, Delhi High Court on April 19 held that all insurance companies are liable to give effect to the Mental Healthcare Act 2017 in their policies from the time it came into force in 2018 and any delay in doing so would be “contrary to the letter and spirit of the law”.