Research over the years has shown that stress levels and mental health issues are increasing among populations across the world. Young people, in particular, face unique challenges like academic demands, navigating their identity and career, and problems arising from their interpersonal relationships.
Although there is increasing conversation about the importance of mental health, many people remain unaware of how they can look after their mental well-being and seek help from professionals. If you are someone who has wondered whether you should see a therapist or how to go about it, this article is for you.
Read on to learn about some common signs that can indicate declining mental health, where to find a therapist in different Indian cities, what to look for in a therapist, emergency hotlines for mental health, and some free online resources for learning more about mental health.
How to identify signs of stress and other mental health problems
Looking out for warning signs of increasing/excessive stress and other mental health problems is crucial for their identification and seeking appropriate intervention. Here are some signs that you should be on the lookout for:
Significant changes in sleeping and eating patterns
Reduced effort towards personal care and hygiene
Increased irritability and mood swings
Loss of interest in socialising and hobbies
Reduced functioning in school and/or work
Absenteeism and social withdrawal
Reduced concentration and logical thought
Sense of unreality and odd behaviour
The presence of multiple symptoms can interfere with social, personal and occupational functioning and indicates the presence or onset of a mental health problem. If you experience several of these signs, you may want to consider seeking professional help from a therapist.
The symptoms of a mental health problem do not have to be debilitating for you to seek professional help. In fact, early intervention of mental health issues is shown to reduce symptoms, prove the prognosis of the illness, and prevent hospitalisation.
How to approach a therapist and where to look for them
It is common for people to be hesitant while approaching a mental health professional. They might fear the stigma and judgement that is attached to mental health or may simply be unaware of how and where to approach a therapist.
There are several online resources where you can find therapists for virtual and in-person counselling in your city. While looking for a mental health professional who is the right fit for you, here are some things that you can consider:
Does the therapist specialise in the issues that you are facing?
A therapist who specialises in adolescent or youth mental health, or specific concerns like anxiety or depression, may be able to help you better as per your needs.
Do their professional fees align with your budget?
Affordability is a major factor in determining access to mental health services. It might be helpful for you to determine how much you can pay and look for a therapist who charges within that price range.
As a student or a young professional, it might not be possible to spend any money on counselling but many therapists offer pro-bono services or a sliding fee scale.
Does the therapist speak the language(s) you are comfortable in?
Many therapists in India are multilingual and administer services in English and Indian languages. If you find it easier to express yourself in a particular language, it may be useful to search for therapists who can speak your preferred language and understand you better.
Does the therapist conduct offline or online sessions?
People have preferences for offline and online sessions for various reasons.
Someone who cannot afford to travel to a clinic because of a busy schedule may prefer online therapy sessions. On the other hand, someone who resides with their family might prefer in-person therapy sessions where they can enjoy a greater level of privacy.
Some websites where you can find mental health professionals in India are:
DocVita matches users with a therapist or psychiatrist based on their responses to a few basic questions about their age, preferences and specific mental health needs.
You can also search for therapists and psychiatrists based on their city, the type of therapy they specialise in and the specific mental health conditions that they are trained to deal with.
Along with a short bio of mental health professionals, you can also see their next available slot, the fees they charge, the languages they speak and details about their past experience.
DocVita allows you to book an appointment with a therapist through their website directly.
Therapy Route allows you to find professionals based on their city, the specific client groups and mental health problems they specialise in and the languages they speak. You can also find an extensive bio detailing the past experience and educational qualifications of the listed therapists.
However, to book appointments with most mental health professionals listed on Therapy Route, you must reach out to them independently to inquire about available slots and their professional fees.
Therapy Route also has a range of articles about mental health and help-seeking, and guides on how to find a therapist, how to determine the right kind of therapy for you, etc.
Practo allows you to book online and offline sessions with mental health professionals across different cities in India directly through their website. You can find a short bio of practitioners along with details like their professional fees, available slots, past experiences and addresses.
Resources to know more about mental health and hotlines for emergencies
Some free, reliable online resources where you can learn more about mental health and help-seeking are:
World Health Organisation’s factsheets about mental health, depression and suicide in India. Here, you can also find statistics about mental health, governmental policies, means of prevention and control, and the challenges related to promoting mental health awareness and intervention in our country.
Sangath’s extensive resource hub, which contains self-help resources, scientific publications, manuals, annual reports and news articles covering various themes related to mental health.
Lastly, there are a number of toll-free telecounselling hotlines that you can access in times of distress and emergencies. Many of these services are available in different Indian languages and cater to specific needs like substance abuse, concerns faced by the LQBTQIA+ community, etc.
OpenCounselling has a list of free emergency hotlines in India based on specific concerns. You can find more helplines in this list compiled by MindClan along with some FAQs about accessing them.
References