Mental Health in India: Why Almost 80% Shy Away From Therapy

When you ask most Indians whether mental‑health problems are on the rise, the answer is almost unanimous – about 81 % say yes. Yet when the same people are asked if they would actually book a session with a therapist, the response drops dramatically. Roughly 80 % say they would hesitate, according to the latest अ‑Nishchit Index 2.0 released by Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance (ABSLI).

The survey, conducted by Drshti Strategic Research Services between July and October 2025, covered 3,583 respondents aged 22‑60 in 20 Indian cities. It was timed to roll out just before World Mental Health Day, perhaps to underscore how far the country still has to go.

Regional patterns are striking. In the East, a full quarter of participants said they would think twice before seeking professional help – the highest hesitation rate of any zone. The North followed at 22 %, the West at 21 %, and the South was the most open, with just 14 % expressing doubt. The same eastern states also showed the strongest worry about the growing prevalence of mental‑health issues, with 26 % flagging it as a concern.

Gender adds another layer. In the East, men were slightly more reluctant (27 %) than women (24 %). Conversely, in the North and West, women were more worried about the rising tide of mental‑health problems – 25 % versus 22 % of men. These nuances suggest that any outreach program must be finely tuned to local cultures and gender‑specific attitudes.

Parents, too, are feeling the pressure. About a quarter of parents in the East fear that their children won’t cope with setbacks, a figure that nudges above the national average of 21 %. The anxiety about younger generations hints at a future need for school‑based mental‑health curricula.

“At ABSLI we see protection as more than just a financial cover,” says Kamlesh Rao, MD and CEO of the insurer. “We want asking for help to become as ordinary as buying a grocery.” Rao’s comment captures a growing realization that awareness alone doesn’t move the needle – the real challenge is making professional help feel normal and accessible.

Similarly, Amit Gupta, CFO of the Aditya Birla Education Trust and head of operations at M‑Power, points out the disconnect between recognizing a problem and actually reaching out. “People may admit that mental‑health concerns are rising, but they still struggle to identify personal distress or know when to call a professional,” he notes, urging early mental‑health literacy to be woven into school programmes.

ABSLI and its partner M‑Power are trying to bridge the gap by offering two complimentary grief‑counselling sessions to each eligible nominee of a deceased policyholder – a small step toward normalising therapy during life’s toughest moments.

What’s clear from the data is that a simple “awareness campaign” won’t be enough. Stigma, affordability, and the sheer logistics of finding a trusted counsellor still loom large, especially in the eastern belt. Future research will need to unpack these barriers so that the conversation can shift from “mental health exists” to “let’s get help together.”