Research has shown that the burden of mental health in India is tremendous. 1 out of 9 adults and 1 out of 14 adolescents in the country have mental health issues that require professional intervention. Various barriers to treatment prevent people from accessing mental health care.
Students in particular are a vulnerable population when it comes to the risk of experiencing stress and mental health issues. This article discusses some ways through which students and people with limited resources can learn about mental health and coping and access professional services for free or low costs.
Why early adulthood is especially important for mental health
Globally, the onset of a mental health disorder begins before age 14 for one-third of the population, before age 18 for almost half the population and before age 15 for 62.5% of people.
Early adulthood and adolescence are especially important periods for both, the mental and physical development of an individual. And yet, young people find it difficult to devote time to maintaining and improving their mental well-being among their various responsibilities.
Some common challenges that people face during early adulthood are:
Academic pressure and demands
Navigating and establishing their identity
Stress caused by interpersonal relationships
Establishing their career
Demands and expectations placed by parents
Lack of economic resources
Societal discrimination due to their gender and sexual identity
In a period marked by dramatic life changes and challenges, it becomes essential for young people to look after their mental health. Building constructive coping mechanisms can also help people maintain their mental well-being throughout their lives.
Ways in which students/people with limited resources and time can cope
Many students and young professionals do not have the means to seek professional support for their mental health. This might be because of the lack of support from their family members or the cost involved.
However, there are other options through which people with limited resources can cope with their mental health issues:
Support Groups
Support groups are gatherings of people who face similar problems to share their experiences and provide each other with support and insight. There are many online support groups in India for various concerns and groups, such as youth support groups, depression support groups, etc.
Telecounselling Hotlines
Telecounselling hotlines provide free and confidential mental health support to people through text messaging and calling. They are usually for emergency situations and operate 24/7.
There are many emergency mental health hotlines in India that cater to specific concerns such as addiction, suicidal ideation, etc. Here is a helpful resource to access telecounselling hotlines.
Pro-bono Therapists
Therapy can often be unaffordable for students and people with limited economic resources. However, there are many therapists who have a sliding scale or pay-what-you-can fees to make their services accessible to everyone.
Some therapists also provide mental health services for no cost. It can be helpful to find pro-bono therapists in your city or discuss the possibility of a sliding scale with your therapist.
Self-help Resources
There are plenty of free self-help resources that you can access online to learn more about coping with different challenges and mental health problems. These include worksheets, illustrated guides, videos, articles by mental health providers and initiatives.
Here is a guide for finding self-help resources related to anxiety, depression, self-care, suicidal ideation, addiction, and a range of other mental health-related topics.
Mental Health Apps
Many mental health apps have emerged in the past few years, making access to psychological services easier than ever. Although these cannot substitute for the services provided by a professional, they are a good option to learn more about mental health and coping.
Some mental health apps are Amaha (Inner Hour) for self-care, Headspace for meditation and mindfulness, Youper for cognitive behavioural therapy, and 7cups for text-based therapy.
Initiatives and support groups for youth with mental health issues in India
There are several mental health initiatives working towards promoting youth mental health across India. Many of them have educational workshops and outreach programmes, self-help resources and support groups to make mental health more accessible to the youth.
Here are some mental health initiatives and support groups in India where you can seek help for little to no cost as a student:
Sangath NGO
Sangath is an NGO that aims to develop community mental health resources to benefit populations across their lifespan. They have several initiatives oriented towards adolescent and youth mental health, focusing on anxiety, depression, mental health in schools, gender-based violence, addiction and suicide prevention.
You can find out more about their ongoing initiatives on their website and access resources to learn about mental health and help-seeking. You can also avail their free telecounselling and clinical services.
Peer Spaces by The Tapestry Project
Peer Spaces is a support group hosted by The Tapestry Project and is “designed for college students to express their emotions in a constructive way.” Their weekly sessions are oriented around a ‘theme of the week’ and are open to young people of all backgrounds free of cost.
Note that these sessions are led by student volunteers and are not intended as clinical interventions. They are spaces where you can share your emotions and problems with other like-minded young people and connect.
Youth for Mental Health
Youth for Mental Health is an initiative that aims to create a community for de-stigmatising and promoting conversations about mental health and help-seeking and providing young people with resources to foster change in the mental health field.
They have several online training programmes oriented towards raising awareness and capacity building and connecting mental health professionals with students seeking to learn more. They also conduct mental health campaigns in colleges around India.
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