Lucknow: Stigma surrounding mental illness continues to delay treatment, hinder recovery and impair social and occupational functioning, mental health experts said on World Mental Health Day.Psychiatrist and former faculty member at KGMU, Adarsh Tripathi, said fear of being judged often prevents people from seeking help or disclosing their condition. Social discrimination, ridicule and exclusion can erode self-esteem, strain relationships and affect employment prospects, he added.The impact is particularly severe among adolescents. Citing global data, Tripathi said nearly half of all mental health conditions begin before the age of 14, while symptoms of about three-fourths emerge before 18. Stigma during these formative years can disrupt identity formation and social development, he said.ApolloMedics Hospital associate director of psychiatry, Umar Mushir, said stigma surrounding psychiatric treatment contributes to long-term disability and poor social and occupational outcomes. People with schizophrenia often battle self-stigma and maladaptive coping mechanisms, while those in the early stages of illness may fail to recognise symptoms and delay treatment, he said.He stressed family support. Repeatedly drawing attention to a patient’s condition or behaviour can reinforce stigma within households, Mushir said, urging families to understand mental illness and support treatment instead of treating it as a taboo.The issue was discussed at a programme organised by Indian Medical Association Lucknow, where experts focused on depression, substance abuse and suicide prevention. They emphasised the need for early identification, timely treatment and family support. The association also called for greater transparency in the pricing and quality of psychiatric medicines.Highlighting the treatment gap, senior psychiatrist Shashwat Saxena said only 3% of people with mental health conditions in India receive complete treatment, while 84% never seek treatment. The remaining patients discontinue treatment midway.Saxena said depression and substance-use disorders are treatable and urged people experiencing persistent sadness, hopelessness, sleep disturbances or social withdrawal to seek professional help. He also flagged problematic mobile phone use as an emerging mental health concern and advised those experiencing suicidal thoughts to consult specialists. Psychiatric medication should be discontinued only under medical supervision, he said.IMA honorary secretary Shweta Srivastava said reluctance to seek mental healthcare remains a major challenge, noting that even people who appear cheerful may be battling depression. She also called for preventing substance abuse among young people and integrating mental health services into women’s healthcare.
