Mental Health For Teenagers A Deep Dive into Ancient Indian Wisdom

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Mental Health For Teenagers A Deep Dive into Ancient Indian Wisdom

Adolescence is a vulnerable period: roughly 14% of adolescents worldwide have a diagnosable mental health condition, yet most of these cases are unrecognised and untreated. Stigma and lack of awareness cloak the issue in silence. Teenagers grappling with depression or panic attacks often do so alone, fearing judgment. “Adolescents with mental health conditions are particularly vulnerable to social exclusion, discrimination, and stigma—all of which affect their readiness to seek help,” notes a World Health Organization (WHO) report. In effect, countless young people suffer quietly, without the support or care they desperately need.

India is taking steps in this direction as well. The National Education Policy 2020 explicitly states that ‘children cannot learn optimally when they are undernourished or unwell, including mentally unwell’, and it calls for deploying counsellors and providing ‘healthy meals’ to support students’ mental and physical health. Initiatives like Manodarpan (launched under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan) are working to provide psychosocial support to the youth, including helplines and counselling resources.

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