Mental health conditions have seen an upsurge in the past decade. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 20 percent of the world’s adolescents and children suffer from a mental health condition. Anxiety and depression, two of the most common mental health conditions, cost the global economy 1 trillion USD every year. In the Indian context, a study published in Lancet Psychiatry (2017) revealed that over 197 million Indians (roughly 14 percent of the total populace) struggled with various mental disorders.

Each year, the WHO celebrates World Mental Health Day on October 10 to combat stigma and spread awareness. The conversation surrounding mental health has gained traction during the pandemic owing to the myriad difficulties we’ve all had to adapt to and cope with: isolation, anxiety, insecurities, and grief, to name a few. The essential role of mental health in achieving global development goals alongside personal wellbeing is being acknowledged like never before.