The Silent Epidemic
Addressing the Mental Health Crisis in the Post-Pandemic Era
By: Narayanan Kizhumundayur
The COVID-19 pandemic, while primarily a public health emergency of unprecedented scale, also triggered a parallel and far more silent epidemic—one that continues to grow in the shadows: the mental health crisis.
Though nations have reopened, masks are off, and economies are on the path to recovery, the psychological wounds inflicted during the pandemic have not healed. They remain raw and widespread, festering beneath the surface of our apparent return to normalcy.
This mental health crisis is not limited to any one age group, gender, or social class—it is a universal affliction that demands urgent and sustained attention from society, policymakers, and individuals alike.
Perhaps the most vulnerable victims of this mental health fallout are the youth, whose sense of identity and emotional development was deeply disrupted during the pandemic years. The closure of educational institutions for extended periods forced children and adolescents into a world of screens, away from the organic rhythms of peer interaction, outdoor play, and the mentorship of teachers.
For many, homes turned into pressure cookers of expectations, academic deadlines, and emotional disconnect. Online learning, though necessary, could never replicate the holistic learning environment of a classroom, and the over-dependence on gadgets brought its own psychological strain—ranging from attention disorders and digital fatigue to a crippling sense of isolation.
The anxiety of disrupted studies, fear of examinations, and uncertainty about future prospects created a psychological burden that far exceeded their age and coping capacity. In a country like India, where academic success is often equated with self-worth, these stressors have had devastating consequences, including an alarming spike in student suicides.
The adult working population, too, found themselves in unfamiliar and emotionally taxing territory. The abrupt shift to remote working arrangements led to the disintegration of work-life boundaries. What was initially hailed as the freedom to work from home soon turned into a relentless cycle of virtual meetings, extended working hours, and an almost constant state of availability.
Homes, instead of being sanctuaries of rest and relaxation, transformed into high-pressure workspaces, often with no designated physical or mental breaks. Women, especially, found themselves juggling office work, domestic chores, and caregiving responsibilities—often simultaneously and without support. For single parents, caregivers to the elderly, and those with pre-existing mental health conditions, the burden was even greater.
The stress, coupled with the fear of job loss and economic instability, led to widespread emotional exhaustion, sleep disorders, irritability, and chronic anxiety. In a society that often glorifies overwork and stoicism, these struggles were largely ignored or dismissed.
The most tragic dimension of this crisis is reflected in the sharp increase in suicides and cases of extreme mental distress. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, suicides in India have reached a record high, with many linked to family conflicts, academic stress, unemployment, and financial despair.
The despair is compounded by the lack of adequate mental health services, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, where the availability of trained professionals is abysmally low and the stigma surrounding mental illness is even more deeply entrenched. In urban centers, where services do exist, they are often unaffordable or inaccessible to those who need them most.
Mental health care, for many, remains a luxury rather than a necessity—a telling failure of our public health priorities.
Stigma remains one of the greatest obstacles to mental well-being in India. Despite growing awareness, mental illness is still shrouded in silence, shame, and misinformation. Depression is dismissed as laziness, anxiety as overthinking, and therapy as indulgence. Families discourage their members from seeking psychiatric help out of fear of being labeled or ostracized.
This silence ensures that people continue to suffer alone, often until it is too late. Changing this culture of silence requires a massive collective effort. Schools must create safe spaces for emotional expression. Parents must be sensitized to listen without judgment.
Workplaces must normalize conversations about mental health and make counseling services an integral part of their HR policies. Public figures, influencers, and media must take responsibility for portraying mental health issues with dignity and truthfulness, shedding the cloak of taboo that has long surrounded them.
On the policy front, there is a pressing need for systemic reforms. India has taken some initial steps, such as the National Mental Health Programme and the launch of the Tele-MANAS platform for teleconsultations.
However, these are merely the beginning. Mental health must be integrated into primary health care. Government hospitals must be equipped with full-time mental health professionals. Community-based mental health services should be expanded, especially for vulnerable populations like the elderly, LGBTQIA+ individuals, migrants, and those living in poverty.
There must be a focus on training and deploying more psychologists, clinical social workers, and psychiatric nurses. Just as physical ailments like diabetes or heart disease receive sustained medical attention, mental disorders must be approached with the same scientific rigor and compassion.
Technology can also be a valuable ally in this mission. Mobile applications for stress management, AI-driven mental health chatbots, and online therapy platforms can help reach millions, especially those in remote areas.
However, technology alone cannot substitute for the human touch. What we need, more than ever, is a cultural shift—a return to empathy, community, and genuine human connection. Listening, without interruption or judgment, can itself be an act of healing.
The post-pandemic world has given us an opportunity, perhaps even a moral obligation, to reconsider our priorities. We have long invested in infrastructure, industries, and innovation—now we must invest in emotional well-being. A mentally healthy population is not merely a personal good; it is a national asset. When minds are unburdened, creativity flourishes, productivity increases, and society becomes more compassionate and cohesive. Mental health must be seen not as a private struggle, but as a shared responsibility.
In conclusion, if there is one enduring lesson the pandemic has taught us, it is this: our inner worlds matter just as much as the external. Healing the invisible wounds of the pandemic will take time, effort, and above all, collective will. It is only when we embrace mental health with the same seriousness as physical health, and with the same sense of urgency, that we can truly say we are rebuilding a better, kinder world.
(The author is an accounts professional and a columnist. He is a regular contributor to ‘Kashmir Vision’)
