What is mental health like in India?
The landscape of mental health in India is undoubtedly changing for the better, with larger sections of people seeking mental health services. Unfortunately, Indian regulations currently do not pose licensing restrictions on the practice of professions like counselling and generic therapy, leading to many having used variations of these words to advance their private practice.
The situation is dire to the point of Indeed having job postings of ‘unlicensed clinical psychologists’. For a perspective, imagine you called a cab to get out of an unfamiliar place (for dramatic effect, maybe even at night) and unfortunately the cab driver does not hold a valid driver’s licence. This means, they could share your location with someone, be under the influence of substances and never driven that kind of motor vehicle before. It is quite similar when it comes to mental health, only the driver is the therapist and the dark unfamiliar place isn’t physical.
One way to ensure the authenticity of a therapist is by checking if they are registered with our regulatory body , the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) for licensing . RCI is responsible for regulating and monitoring services given to persons with disabilities. It is a central register of all qualified professionals working in the field in India.
How does therapy actually work ?
Breaking down this seemingly complicated process, psychotherapy typically begins with an initial consultation of gathering relevant information around concerns, background and goals. Collaboratively, the therapist would develop a plan of action personalised to your needs. Throughout the process, therapists employ a range of techniques and interventions providing individuals with a safe space to explore their emotions, gain insights, develop coping strategies, and make positive changes in their lives. It ultimately culminates when both are satisfied with the progress and goals initially decided have been achieved.
It is crucial to view therapy as a proactive lifestyle choice rather than solely as a means to address diagnosed disorders. Regular therapy sessions offer individuals the opportunity for personal growth, self-reflection, and increased self-awareness.
By engaging in therapy as a preventive measure, individuals can develop a deeper understanding of themselves, improve their emotional well-being, and enhance their overall quality of life.
Therapy serves as a valuable tool for stress management, relationship building, and navigating life transitions. Embracing therapy as a lifestyle choice encourages individuals to prioritise their mental health, invest in self-care, and cultivate resilience in the face of challenges. India has 3,372 clinical psychologists registered with the RCI. India has a severe shortage of mental health professionals. For every 100,000 people we have 0.7 professionals. (Garg , et. al. , 2019)
When do you need to seek help?
So when should you seek out a therapist? While it is true that humans are ‘generally’ resilient enough to face daily stressors (Yao & Hsieh, 2019), certain circumstances and genetic modifications can inhibit this ability.
Early psycho-intervention allows us to hone in on this resilience to prevent it from turning into a disorder (for example, generalised anxiety disorder, depression or somatoform disorders).
Common psychiatric disorders like depression, bipolar, ADHD, psychosis can be heredity suggesting it can be passed down in a family (Wu et al., 2020; Lu et al., 2019). What psychotherapy does is provide a seat-belt in case you do have that genetic mutation, reducing the impact of a crash.
Thus, it is imperative to seek support on time and look at exercise or healthy food for your mental health- a required lifestyle choice.
Whether you choose to start therapy now or later on in life, you must always seek help from a licensed clinical professional. The process of therapy works best when it is voluntary. Your mental health journey is in your hands, always!
Reference –
Garg K, Kumar CN, Chandra PS. Number of psychiatrists in India: Baby steps forward, but a long way to go. Indian J Psychiatry. 2019 Jan.
Lu, C. F., Wu, Y. T., Teng, S., Wang, P. S., Tu, P. C., Su, T. P., … & Li, C. T. (2019). Genetic predisposition and disease expression of bipolar disorder reflected in shape changes of the anterior limbic network. Brain Sciences, 9(9), 240.
Tanofsky-Kraff, M., Shomaker, L. B., Young, J. F., & Wilfley, D. E. (2016). Interpersonal psychotherapy for the prevention of excess weight gain and eating disorders: A brief case study. Psychotherapy, 53(2), 188.
Wu, Y., Cao, H., Baranova, A., Huang, H., Li, S., Cai, L., … & Wang, Q. (2020). Multi-trait analysis for genome-wide association study of five psychiatric disorders. Translational psychiatry, 10(1), 209 Yao, Z. F., & Hsieh, S. (2019). Neurocognitive mechanism of human resilience: A conceptual framework and empirical review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(24), 5123.