World Mental Health Day 2025 is held on the day of the 10th of October every year, a day that is used to advocate the values of mental health and encourage people to access care, particularly during crises and emergencies. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as a condition of mental well-being that helps people in managing the demands of life, achieving their potential, learning effectively and working effectively, and contributing to society.

Students who study in competitive examination preparation need to take care about psychological well-being, as it determines, in the end, learning, degree of concentration, and the quality of life in general. It is a reminder that the weight of psychological health should be put up a notch higher to ease the stigma of mental illness and offer support to individuals managing mental illness.

World Mental Health Day 2025 Overview

World Mental Health Day 2025 theme “Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies”, highlights the urgent need to provide mental health support during crises such as natural disasters, conflicts, and pandemics. These emergencies cause deep emotional distress and long-lasting psychological effects for many individuals worldwide. 

World Mental Health Day 2025 Theme

World mental health day 2025 official theme, “Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies,” calls for action now to ensure individuals affected by disasters, conflicts or emergencies get appropriate mental health support as soon as possible. This day will prompt communities globally to support stigma-lifting efforts to promote inclusion and improve mental well-being during unprecedented humanitarian crises.

The central message of this year’s theme is the need to embed mental health in emergency response. During crises, mental health issues often increase—but services may be more difficult to access when they are most needed.

Mental Health in India

India faces significant challenges in mental health care. About 10.6% of Indian adults suffer from mental disorders, with urban areas showing higher prevalence (13.5%) than rural (6.9%).  The National Mental Health Programme and policies such as the Mental Healthcare Act (2017) aim to improve access and rights, but gaps remain, especially in rural areas.

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Mental Health Problems in India

Common mental health problems in India include depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia. Depression affects 2.7% currently and 5.2% over a lifetime. 70-92% of those with mental health conditions do not receive proper treatment due to stigma, lack of awareness, and a shortage of trained professionals. India has only 0.75 psychiatrists per 100,000 people, far below the WHO recommendation of 3 per 100,000.

Urban metros experience higher rates of mood and stress-related disorders. Substance use is prevalent in over 22% of adults in surveyed states. Factors like rapid urbanization, economic stress, stigma, and limited service availability contribute to growing mental health difficulties. The COVID-19 pandemic has further increased anxiety and depression cases across the country.

Mental Health of Adolescents

Mental health issues have been on the rise among the adolescents in India. Studies have shown that the prevalence rates of such mental disorders among school-going adolescents range between 3.8% and 50% with depression, anxiety, addiction to technology, and behavioral problems being the most prevalent. 

The family and social realms which cause adolescents not to receive the necessary help earlier include the influence of academic pressures and stigma related to seeking help or help-seeking interventions in the said circumstances. 

The alarming fact that is coming out is that the rate of suicide among the youth is escalating. 

Though various government programs addressing adolescents and their mental health have already been conducted, the effectiveness and scope of mental health programs in school must be not only increased but enhanced to address the needs of adolescents. 

Mental health Issues in Children in India

Depression, anxiety, social and behavior problems, and ADHD are common mental health problems among children. Anxiety is the most widespread and it was also found that there are cases of psychological distress, internet addiction, and exposure or abuse to violence harmful to the mental health of children (Commitment to Child, Youth and Family Mental Health in Schools 2015).

Although early detection and treatment can help reduce the problems in the long-term, it is still constrained by stigmatization, lack of awareness in systems or among individuals, and lack of resources in the whole country. Also, teachers, parents and policymakers are also found to be key players with a responsibility of ensuring a safe environment for the growth of children. 

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