A silent yet severe mental health crisis among women is tightening its grip on India and globally. Studies show women are almost twice as prone as men to disorders like anxiety and depression. Alarmingly, India contributes to over one-third (36.6%) of global female suicide deaths, as highlighted in The Lancet’s 2018 study.

Despite the worrying statistics, cultural stigma and societal barriers continue to block countless Indian women from accessing mental health care. A recent report titled ‘Unveiling the Silent Struggle’ by Mpower, part of the Aditya Birla Education Trust, paints a grim picture. After examining mental health outreach covering 1.3 million Indian women, the report reveals half of them are weighed down by persistent stress, stemming from balancing careers, family pressures, and financial worries.

Key takeaways include:

  • 47% of young women (18-35) grapple with sleeplessness, hampering mental clarity and emotional health.

  • 41% admit to emotional strain from shrinking social circles.

  • 38% experience heightened anxiety around career progression and financial independence.

    • City-wise insights show regional concerns:

    • Mumbai women report academic and job-related exhaustion.

  • Delhi women highlight safety fears, leading to trauma and anxiety.

  • Kolkata women, though socially well-connected, hesitate to seek professional aid due to societal judgment.

    • Dr. Harshida Bhansali, senior psychiatrist, explains that issues like strained relationships, single motherhood, financial dependency, hormonal challenges, and lack of decision-making power worsen women’s mental strain.

    Experts stress the urgent need for open conversations, accessible therapy, workplace flexibility, and community-driven support networks to help women reclaim emotional stability.

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    #WomenWellbeing
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