Dehradun: For years, a Dehradun resident struggled silently with depression without realising she needed professional help. “My family kept asking me to relax, take a walk or do something to feel better,” she said. It was only after her distress began manifesting physically through pseudo seizures that she was screened and offered treatment.
The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said therapy was never suggested during her initial consultations. “I realised much later on my own that I needed therapy,” she said, adding that she later enrolled in a course to become a clinical psychologist herself.
Another resident recalled spending months unable to get out of bed after a personal tragedy in 2024. “I stopped wanting to do anything with my day and avoided all interactions,” she said.
Though she knew she needed professional help, she avoided government hospitals after seeing her sister’s experience there. “After a long waiting time, she barely got 10 minutes with the doctor,” she said. She instead turned to private therapy, where sessions lasted nearly an hour but cost around Rs 1,500 each. “I eventually discontinued therapy because I could not afford too many sessions,” she added. In-person therapy sessions in the city can cost anywhere between Rs 1,000 and Rs 3,000.
Their experience reflects a wider mental healthcare crisis in Dehradun, where long waiting hours, costly therapy, shortage of professionals and social stigma continue to keep many away from treatment.
According to government data from 2025, one in every 11 persons in India suffers from mental health disorders. However, UNICEF data shows India has only 0.75 psychiatrists per 100,000 people and even fewer psychologists.
Concerns around privacy and supervision at affordable facilities were also raised by patients. One patient said students and trainees often remained present during consultations. “One does not feel comfortable sharing vulnerabilities in front of anyone but the doctor,” he said.
Mental health professionals said the shortage of specialists and pressure on public hospitals make sustained care difficult.
Dr Rashi Bhatnagar, who worked in the public sector for over 11 years, said government institutes often cannot give enough time to patients because of pressure on the system. “Government facilities are quick to wrap up cases because they are accountable for numbers,” she said.
She also pointed to a shortage of professionals and a lack of awareness among patients. “There is a huge gap between requirements and professionals available. People also don’t reach us because they don’t know they need us,” she said, adding that stigma and denial prevent many from seeking help.
Confirming concerns around trainee supervision, Dr Bhatnagar said, “Students sometimes handle cases they should not be handling without consultants’ knowledge due to gaps in supervision.” Dr Jaya Nawani, psychiatrist at Doon Hospital, said, “Many people remain unaware that psychiatry departments are available in government medical colleges. Nearly 100 patients visit the hospital daily for mental health support.”
Doctors also flagged interruptions in treatment because of medicine shortages and social stigma surrounding psychiatric drugs.
Dr Nisha Singla of Coronation Hospital said medicines often run out because many patients cannot afford to buy them privately. “This can lead to discontinuation of treatment, which impacts recovery,” she said. She also noted the hesitation patients have towards psychiatric medicines.
Highlighting similar concerns, Dr Nawani said psychiatric medicines are not always available because budgets are shared across departments. “Priority is often given to physical health over mental health,” she said, adding that many patients discontinue medicines early because they misunderstand psychiatric treatment. “Patients ask, ‘Will I have to go through it again?’ I ask them if they ask physicians the same question about fever,” she said.
Dr Nawani said many patients seek help only after months or years of unnoticed distress, making recovery longer and more difficult. “Patients are reluctant to continue medicines for prescribed periods because they are not aware of this,” she said.
