Beneath the calm exterior of many young people in India today lies a complex inner world of unspoken struggles. Experts observing the youth note a troubling pattern: children often appear composed while silently grappling with emotions they lack the confidence or vocabulary to express. This hidden reality underscores that even in supportive families, a young person's emotional battles can go completely unseen, making mental health a shared responsibility for parents, teachers, extended family, and the wider community.
The Stark Reality: Global and Indian Youth in Distress
The numbers paint a worrying picture. Globally, one in seven young people lives with a mental health condition, as per the World Health Organisation. Alarmingly, suicide ranks among the leading causes of death for those aged 15 to 29 years. The situation in India is particularly pressing, with estimates suggesting that one in every four young Indians experiences a mental health challenge. These individuals are not just statistics; they represent the future workforce, caregivers, and leaders of the nation.
The most critical moments for a child's emotional state often occur away from public view. After the school day ends and behind closed doors, pressures from academics, social comparison, and cyberbullying intensify. In these vulnerable hours, teachers are not present. The first line of support—if it exists at all—falls to a parent, sibling, neighbour, or sometimes, no one.
Bridging the Generational and Societal Gap
Many parents feel ill-equipped to handle these emotional crises, not from a lack of love, but because they were raised in environments where feelings were seldom discussed. For generations, Indian parenting prioritized discipline and academic success over emotional dialogue. Consequently, when children express distress, adults may instinctively respond with advice, correction, or dismissal, when what the child truly needs is to be heard and validated.
This gap is widened further by persistent stigma. In many households, emotional vulnerability is wrongly tied to social reputation. The pervasive "log kya kahenge" (what will people say) fear delays seeking help, teaching children to mask their discomfort behind a facade of achievement. This culture of silence does not protect families; it isolates them.
Building an Emotional Infrastructure for India's Future
Mental wellbeing is shaped not just within families but by the entire ecosystem a child inhabits—housing societies, peer groups, extended families, and digital networks. The key question is whether a child's vulnerability is met with acceptance or judgment. When communities start viewing emotions as a shared human experience rather than an individual failing, children begin to feel validated instead of neglected.
This is why mental health must be treated as essential social infrastructure. A multi-pronged approach is needed:
- Schools must integrate emotional vocabulary and coping mechanisms into their curriculum.
- Homes need to provide non-judgmental emotional safety.
- Communities should respond with empathy, normalizing conversations about feelings.
Emotionally attuned parenting is less about having perfect answers and more about being available, listening without rushing to fix problems, and understanding that a child's behavior is often a form of communication. Trust is built through consistent, everyday interactions.
However, families cannot shoulder this burden alone. A child's resilience is fortified by encouraging coaches, teachers focused on holistic wellbeing, and caregivers who listen without judgment. This collective sensitivity forms the emotional infrastructure India urgently requires. With one of the world's largest youth populations, the cost of neglect is too high. The economic argument is also clear: unaddressed mental health issues cost the global economy trillions annually, a price India cannot afford.
The foundation must be laid early. India's health and education systems need to invest in emotional literacy and provide public platforms that equip every caregiver with tools to screen and nurture a child's emotional health from a young age. The future of mental health in India will be forged not just in clinics and classrooms, but in living rooms, playgrounds, and daily interactions. By creating environments where emotions are acknowledged, struggles are taken seriously, and voices are heard, we can unlock the full potential of India's youth and build a more compassionate and resilient nation. – Neerja Birla, Founder and Chairperson of Aditya Birla Education Trust and visionary behind Mpower.
