India's Mental Health Crisis Shifts to Youth: 60% Disorders Affect Under-35 Population
India's mental health landscape is undergoing a dramatic transformation, with the crisis no longer primarily affecting the elderly but increasingly unfolding among school and college students and young professionals. A startling revelation emerged at the 77th Annual National Conference of the Indian Psychiatric Society (ANCIPS) 2026, where experts disclosed that nearly 60% of mental disorders now impact individuals below the age of 35.
Early Onset: Mental Illnesses Taking Root in Adolescence
Senior psychiatrists, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers gathered in New Delhi from January 28 to 31 to deliberate on this rapidly changing scenario. Experts emphasized that mental illnesses are now manifesting much earlier than previously believed, typically during adolescence and early adulthood. The median age of onset has been pegged at just 19 to 20 years, marking a significant shift in the country's mental health epidemiology.
Conditions such as anxiety, depression, problems stemming from substance abuse, and behavioral disorders are increasingly being diagnosed during what should be a person's most productive years of life. This trend represents a substantial public health challenge that requires immediate attention and intervention.
Multiple Factors Driving the Youth Mental Health Crisis
Dr. Deepak Raheja, organizing secretary of ANCIPS, Delhi and director of Hope Care India, acknowledged that greater awareness and reduced stigma are encouraging more young people to seek professional help—a positive development compared to past decades. However, he cautioned that awareness alone cannot explain the alarming surge in such cases among India's youth.
"Intense academic expectations, job uncertainty, constant digital exposure, loneliness, and substance use are resulting in mental health problems appearing earlier and more frequently," Raheja stated during the conference proceedings. These multifaceted pressures are creating a perfect storm that is reshaping the mental wellbeing of an entire generation.
Scientific Evidence Supporting the Disturbing Trend
The experts clarified that the '60% figure' is based on a comprehensive synthesis of numerous Indian and international studies, which consistently show that most mental disorders begin in the late teens or early twenties and persist into later life if left untreated. Scientific discussions at the conference referenced a widely cited international meta-analysis published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2021, which analyzed data from over 700,000 individuals and found that more than three-fifths of such disorders manifest by age 25.
Dr. Nimesh G. Desai, chairperson of the organizing committee of ANCIPS 2026 and former director of the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences, warned of severe long-term consequences if early intervention is neglected. "Most mental disorders are manageable if reported on time. Delay converts a treatable problem into a chronic burden," he emphasized, highlighting the critical importance of timely diagnosis and treatment.
Rising Suicide Risk and Pandemic Exacerbation
Psychiatrists also raised alarms about increasing suicide risk among young Indians, pointing to recent studies that show a sharp increase in mental distress among 18- to 25-year-olds over the past decade. This troubling trend has been further worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic uncertainties, creating additional stressors for an already vulnerable population.
Dr. Savita Malhotra, president of the Indian Psychiatric Society, echoed these concerns, noting that academic pressure, digital overexposure, and rapid social change are fundamentally reshaping the mental health needs of India's youth. "Addressing this must become more accessible, youth-friendly, and free of stigma," she asserted, calling for systemic changes in how mental health services are delivered to younger demographics.
Urgent Call for National Action
With an estimated 70% to 80% of people with mental disorders still not receiving timely care, experts warned that India risks undermining its demographic dividend if the mental health of its youth is not prioritized. The clear message emerging from the conference was that mental illnesses in the country are not only unfolding earlier in life but also rising at an accelerated pace, demanding coordinated national action before an entire generation pays the price for this growing crisis.
The convergence of early onset, multiple contributing factors, and inadequate treatment access presents a complex challenge that requires immediate policy attention, increased mental health resources, and destigmatization efforts targeted specifically at India's younger population.
