Recently, the wise and magnanimous Mrs Sudha Murthy, Member of Parliament and wife of Infosys founder Mr Narayana Murthy, gave a heartwarming speech in Parliament. She shared in her speech that millions of Indians suffer in silence from depression, loneliness and emotional pain and seldom seek help because of the stigma around mental illness.
She called on the Prime Minister and the Government of India to tackle this growing epidemic of unhappiness and depression. She emphasized how when people get sick physically they’ll go to the doctor, but mental health is still a taboo—completely disregarded.
Mrs. Murthy also acknowledged that the government has ensured access to subsidized medicines for mental health but she also appealed that more institutions for mental health need to be created for the benefit of people. This is a thoroughly humane, reparative call to action. But her words still were missing one most important piece of the mental health puzzle: prevention.
Some Mental Hardships Don’t Require Medication
Clinical depression and other diagnosed disorders require medication and medical treatment, but not all emotional distress rises to that level. Many people feel:
- Stressed
- Overwhelmed
- Lonely
- Disconnected
- Emotionally exhausted
These sensations are real, but they don’t always need a pill. What they need is awareness, education and daily mental hygiene — the same way we brush our teeth or eat healthy food.
The Missing Pillars
What’s often absent from the public conversations is this: mental health isn’t just about curing illness — it’s about developing resilience. And science tells us we can cultivate that resiliency with simple, proven practices:
- Gratitude rewires the brain to look for what we have, not what is missing.
- Mindfulness nudges us to the here and now, interrupting the cycle of worry and regret.
- Empathy enhances our social connectedness and sense of community belonging.
These are not abstract ideas. They are backed by neuroscience and practised around the world — including in schools across developed countries like Australia.
The Resilience Project: A Lesson from Australia
Once, my son shared a journal they were made to fill at his school in Australia. It was part of what’s called The Resilience Project. In it, students were instructed to practice:
- Gratitude — by making a daily journal entry of three things they were grateful for.
- Empathy — through acts of kindness and reflective conversation.
- Mindfulness – via simple awareness and breathing exercises
These were not random, one-time workshops. They were weekly routines built within the curriculum of the school. And most critically, they worked — not only for children but for families and communities.
What if we implemented this in Indian schools, colleges, offices, homes, etc.?
A Two-Pronged Mental Health Strategy India Needs
Yes, take clinical depression and serious mental illnesses seriously — getting professional help and medicine.
But also invest in a national movement to cultivate emotional resilience in every citizen — before the breakdown occurs.
This means:
- Teaching people about the brain, emotions and coping skills.
- Encouraging gratitude, meditation, journaling and daily self-reflection.
- Backing mental health startups, NGOs, and apps developing simple, evidence-based interventions.
- Creating a community where asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
An Appeal to Mrs Sudha Murthy and the Government
Mrs. Murthy’s voice has both moral weight and national reach. It was a timely and powerful call to action against depression.
But I also hope that she and our government will support a broader, preventive vision of mental well-being in India.
Let’s not wait for others to break before we help them heal. Let’s show them how to remain mentally strong, emotionally connected and self-aware.
Because the actual solution to India’s mental health crisis doesn’t lie only in hospitals or pills.
It’s in households, classrooms, communities — and most importantly, in the way we live, think and take care of ourselves, and each other.
Sources & References
- National Mental Health Survey of India (2015-16) – Published by NIMHANS & Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
https://main.mohfw.gov.in - WHO India – Depression and Mental Health Data
https://www.who.int/india/health-topics/mental-health - Lancet Psychiatry India Mental Health Study – 1 in 7 Indians affected by mental disorders.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy
- Harvard Health Publishing – Giving thanks can make you happier
https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier - Greater Good Science Center (UC Berkeley) – Research on Gratitude and Well-being
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu - American Psychological Association (APA) – Mindfulness Practice and its Benefits
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/07-08/ce-corner
- The Resilience Project – GEM (Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness)
https://theresilienceproject.com.au - Australian Government – National Children’s Mental Health Strategy (2021)
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/national-childrens-mental-health-and-wellbeing-strategy
- World Health Organization (WHO) – Depression: Let’s Talk (2017 Campaign)
https://www.who.int/news-room/campaigns - The Live Love Laugh Foundation (by Deepika Padukone) – Mental Health Awareness in India
https://www.thelivelovelaughfoundation.org
- Economic Times & The Hindu – Coverage of Sudha Murthy’s speech in Parliament (2024)
(Include specific article links when available.) - PRS Legislative Research – Budget Analysis & Health Sector Allocation
https://prsindia.org