India’s Silent Crisis: Our Top Mental Health Stories of 2017

A mental health crisis is enveloping us. Our series focuses on telling people’s stories and how they live with it.

Here’s a roundup of our continued focus on mental health and related issues this year.

A mental health crisis is enveloping India as we speak – a crisis that is made worse by stigma, and a crippling lack of adequate mental healthcare infrastructure. But people continue to take mental illnessess lightly.

In 2017, as part of a continued series of stories on mental health, FIT strived to raise awareness and mobilise support for the issue, and we’ll continue to do so. The series also won us Best Article Series (Gold) at Digipub Awards 2017. It tells the stories of people who's lives are no different than you and me, yet are so complicated.

1. We Can No Longer Afford To Ignore India’s Mental Health Crisis

Here’s a quick look at the magnitude of India’s mental healthcare crisis - in numbers.

A mental health crisis is enveloping India as we speak - what are we doing about it? (Infographic: Rahul Gupta/The Quint)  

2. The World’s Quietest Killer: Are You Misunderstanding Depression?

No, depression is not the same as being very sad. Depression is a medical illness. And sadness is an emotion or a feeling. The two are quite different.

Still misunderstand what depression is? Worry not, just watch our explainer.

3. Ranveer Saini’s Journey from Autism to Gold

Ranveer Saini’s story shows how having a mental illness is not the only thing that defines you.

Ranveer Saini was 1 year and 11 months old when he was diagnosed with autism. Since that day, Ranveer's parents had decided not to let him be just another kid with this disorder, struggling to speak.

In 2015, the 16-year-old defied all myths about autism when he won the Gold medal in Golf at the Special Olympics in Los Angeles.

Watch the full story here.

4. People With Depression Can Still Laugh: Story of An Abuse Survivor

Lasya Nadimpally was 24 years old when she suffered her first nervous breakdown.(Illustration: Erum Gour/The Quint)

Over the years, Lasya Nadimpally’s coping mechanism for depression became dreaming up scenarios when things would be different.

People need to know that when someone is depressed they can laugh, emphasises Lasya, who used to “laugh all the time”.

Listen to Lasya’s story here.

5. My Mother and Menopause: A Journey Through Depression

A graphic novel from a daughter’s perspective, telling her mother’s story of depression due to menopause.

My mother and menopause: A journey through depression.(Illustration: Erum Gour)

Read the entire graphic novel here.

6. What It’s Like to Be Depressed and Choose Alcohol Over Life at 16

Natasha Kothari, a social worker and mental health advocate, shares her story of battling depression since the age of 15. In this video, the young 20-year-old also talks about an episode of alcohol poisoning at the age of 16, which put her right in the middle of the world's judgement, but also proved to be a turning point in her life.

7. Here’s How to Keep Linkin Park Singer Chester’s Legacy Alive

Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington was an entire generation’s voice, silenced by depression. His suicide struck a conversation around opening up about depression.

8. I’m Mad Because My Heart Has Been Broken: Diary of a Schizophrenic

“You need the mad person to make you feel better”, says Reshma Valliappan, artist, mental health activist and schizophrenic. Reshma was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2002.

She could have easily been a rebel, Reshma says, and been indifferent to society and its rules, but at the end of the day, she too wants to belong and feel believed.

9. Dancing in the Dark: Of Suicidal Urges, Medication & Therapy

“Work doesn’t come easy for those with mental health issues."(Photo: The Quint/Susnata Paul)

Read a journalist's account of combating mental illness and her advice to fellow patients.

“Work doesn't come easy for those with mental health issues. Hectic routines cause breakdowns. We need off days for our relapses and moods. High stress situations can throw us into a shell.”

Liked our stories in 2017? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to make sure you don’t miss out on all the stuff we have lined up for you in 2018!

And here’s wishing you a Happy New Year from the team at Fit!