Mental health awareness has grown globally in recent years and yet in India, even today, conversations around mental well-being still carry the invisible weight of stigma. This stigma can at times be silent and subtle, or loud and shaming, but in all its forms, it prevents people from seeking the help they need.

According to the National Mental Health Survey (2015-16), nearly 70% of adults facing mental health challenges in India did not seek help largely due to stigma, misinformation, or lack of access to care—despite growing access to support from Indian therapist online services. A more recent report from UNICEF (2021) revealed that only 41% of Indian youth between 15-24 years saw value in seeking support for mental health due to the regional connotations attached with seeking therapy, compared to 83% of youth in twenty other countries who were more willing to seek therapy.

These statistics show how important mental health literacy is, and its scarcity in the Indian population. It thus becomes essential to break down what mental health stigma actually means, how it affects people in India, and to discuss some myths that keep it alive.

What is mental health stigma?

The word “stigma” in general refers to the negative attitudes or stereotypes held toward a person or group based on traits seen as “different” or “inferior.” In the case of mental health, stigma appears when people with emotional or psychological struggles are labeled as weak, crazy, or attention-seeking. It refers to the negative attitudes and stereotypes people hold about individuals whose behaviors or experiences do not align with society’s usual expectations. These biases often lead to judgment, rejection, or misunderstanding, rather than seeing them as deserving understanding and support.
There are several different ways in which stigma is operational in society

Public or Social stigma: on a societal level stigma looks like holding harmful attitudes and negative stereotypes towards those with mental illnesses and struggles (e.g., “Mental illness is a sign of weakness.”)
Structural and Professional stigma: on a structural level, stigma can be translated into misallocation of capital and resources, underfunding of medical research, poor provision of psychiatric and mental health care programs, lack of mental health literacy programs, and under-remuneration of mental health professionals. These factors may lead to overburdening and overworking professionals affecting the quality and sensitivity in care, as professionals may experience fatigue and burnout.
Self- Stigma: on an individual level, being exposed to negative attitudes from others can lead individuals to internalize these messages, minimize their struggles, and blame themselves or feel inadequate for having mental health challenges or illnesses.

How does stigma show up in Indian society?

India’s relationship with mental health is deeply intertwined with cultural beliefs, religion, and social expectations. In many parts of the country, psychological conditions are still attributed to supernatural causes, “evil spirits”, “bad karma” or spiritual “afflictions.” For instance, in Kerala, a well-known temple has seen fewer visitors because of the belief that it is frequented by people “possessed by spirits.” Locals feared mental illness could somehow be “caught”, reflecting how deeply stigma and misinformation are still rooted in some communities (Raghavan et al., 2023).

Another study highlighted how stigma can create barriers for reaching out for resources and support, and results in feeling shame and isolation. In a collectivist society such as India, many individuals with mental illnesses report being concerned about how their mental illness and treatment seeking would negatively reflect on their families, creating a sense of shame (Ahmed et al., 2023). Raghavan et al. (2023), in their study also identified how family members and caregivers felt burdened not only by the expectation of managing symptoms and providing care, but also by the constant fear of possibly being excluded and discriminated against by their communities.

This idea that mental health conditions are contagious or morally shameful contributes to misinformation, harmful distancing and fear, resulting in real world consequences such as those discussed below.

What is the impact of stigma?

Mental health stigma doesn’t just hurt feelings. It affects real lives, decisions, relationships, and futures.

It delays or stops people from getting help

Many people fear being judged if they see a therapist. This delay in treatment can worsen conditions like depression or anxiety, which are already hard to manage alone.
It harms self-esteem and self-worth

When people hear repeated messages such as “mental illness is a sign of weakness” they may internalize this and start to believe it. This may lead to guilt, shame, and feeling helpless.
It affects families and caregivers as well

In India’s collectivist society, people tend to worry about how their condition reflects on their caregivers and family. Caregivers often feel shame, guilt, or fear of being ostracized which adds to their emotional burden (Ahmed et al., 2023).
It weakens our health systems

When stigma is widespread, it affects where our resources go. It leads to underfunded services, overworked professionals, and a lack of mental health literacy campaigns.
This creates a vicious cycle
fewer services → less awareness → more stigma → fewer people seeking help.

It perpetuates and maintains misconceptions and misinformation.

Stigma tends to create the idea that those struggling with mental illness are unpredictable or dangerous, leading to fear, rejection and prejudice among the general public.

Debunking common myths about mental health

Challenging myths is one of the most powerful ways to fight stigma. Let’s break down a few that are largely prevalent globally

Myth 1: “Having a mental illness means you’re weak.”

Fact: Mental health struggles aren’t a sign of weakness. They can result from a complex mix of genetics, trauma, stress, brain chemistry, and environment. Just like physical illness, anyone can experience it regardless of strength or character.

Myth 2: “Going to therapy means you’re ‘crazy.’”

Fact: Seeing a psychologist doesn’t mean there’s something “wrong” with you. Just like you’d consult a doctor for physical health, mental health professionals help you understand and navigate emotional challenges. Many people go to therapy not because they’re in crisis, but because they want to grow, heal, or build better coping strategies. Therapy is a healthy, proactive step toward self-care.

Myth 3: “Only medication works — therapy is unnecessary.”

Fact: Treatment is not one-size-fits-all. The treatment conditions vary depending upon the individual and their concerns. While medications can work for some, others respond better to a combination of medications and therapy, and some even prefer only psychotherapy. It is important to collaboratively determine with your mental health professional, which treatment approach suits you better.

Myth 4: “Children can’t have mental health problems.”

Fact: Young children may show early warning signs of mental health concerns. These mental health conditions are often clinically diagnosable and can be a product of the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors. Statistics from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that half of all mental disorders first show signs before a person turns 14-years-old, and three-quarters of mental health disorders begin before age 24. Kids and teens can experience anxiety, depression, and other conditions. It is important that they receive early intervention and support, before the problems start interfering with their developmental needs.

Myth 5: “People with mental illness are violent or dangerous.”

Fact: The causes of violent behavior are complicated and it seldom stems from only a mental illness. Only 3%–5% of violent acts can be attributed to individuals living with a serious mental illness. Most people with mental health problems are no more likely to be violent than others. In fact, people with severe mental illnesses are over 10 times more likely to be victims of a violent crime than the general population. Most individuals with mental health conditions are able to maintain personal, social and occupational functioning, and lead productive lives.

This misinformation is harmful to our understanding of mental illness, impacts our attitudes towards those struggling with mental illness, and highlights the need for improving mental health literacy on a global scale. Mental health literacy entails

(i) knowing how to maintain good mental health;
(ii) recognizing mental health disorders;
(iii) understanding the sources of treatment;
(iv) knowing when and how to seek help, which in turn contributes to the reduction of the stigma surrounding mental health.

Where do we go from here?

Low mental health literacy creates fear, isolation, and discrimination. It pushes people towards unregulated and unethical fixes such as quacks, shamans, or social withdrawal, instead of seeking out effective support.
When we improve mental health literacy, we

Encourage people to seek timely and evidence-based treatment
Empower people to recognize symptoms in themselves and others
Reduce fear and judgment
Strengthen community support

To fight stigma we need to understand that it isn’t just a personal issue it is also a social and systemic problem, but we can change this. It starts with recognizing our own role in maintaining stigma, rejecting myths, having honest conversations about mental health, looking for accurate, evidence based information and resources, and making space for compassion and truth.

If you are struggling or supporting someone who is, know that you are not alone in this, and that it is important to ask for help. Seeking therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness.

References

Ahad, A. A., Sanchez-Gonzalez, M., & Junquera, P. (2023). Understanding and Addressing Mental health stigma across Cultures for Improving Psychiatric Care: A Narrative review. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.39549.

Ahmedani, B. K. (n.d.). Mental health stigma: society, individuals, and the profession. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3248273/

Raghavan R, Brown B, Horne F, et al. Stigma and mental health problems in an Indian context. Perceptions of people with mental disorders in urban, rural and tribal areas of Kerala. International Journal of Social Psychiatry. 2023;69(2):362-369. doi:10.1177/00207640221091187.

Stigma, Prejudice and Discrimination Against People with Mental Illness. (n.d.). https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/stigma-and-discrimination

Zoppi, L. (2020, November 10). What is mental health stigma? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/mental-health-stigma