The Quiet Crisis of Adolescent Mental Health in India

UPSC Syllabus: Gs Paper 2 –Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Introduction

The recent deaths of three adolescent girls in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, brought national attention to child and adolescent mental health. Such incidents should not be seen as isolated tragedies. They point to deeper structural concerns. Emotional disorders are appearing at younger ages, and digital overexposure is increasing vulnerability. Schools often fail to detect early warning signs, and specialist care remains limited, which together widen this public health challenge.

Current Status of Mental Health Burden Among Children in India

1. Early Emergence of Disorders: Emotional and behavioural problems can appear as early as four or five years of age. Anxiety, depression, attention disorders and behavioural disturbances are increasingly seen in young children.
2. Rising Prevalence: National survey findings show that 7–10% of adolescents in India have diagnosable mental health conditions. Among school-aged children, 5–7% live with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
3. Growing Comorbidity: Multiple conditions now appear together. ADHD often coexists with anxiety, and depression is frequently linked with compulsive digital use or learning difficulties.
4. Dismissed Warning Signs: Withdrawal, impulsivity and sudden behaviour changes are often ignored. This delay increases academic stress, social isolation and long-term emotional damage.

Causes of Rising Mental Health Burden Among Children

1. Impact of Early Trauma and Stress: Neglect, loss and chronic stress disrupt emotional and cognitive growth. These disruptions often resurface more intensely during adolescence.
2. Rapid Digital Expansion: More than 800 million Indians use smartphones and affordable Internet services. Many children are active users, and digital exposure now begins early.
3. Blurring of Daily Boundaries: Education, communication and entertainment operate on the same device. This reduces offline engagement and weakens natural social interaction.
4. Clinical Concerns Linked to Screen Use: Internet addiction is marked by loss of control, irritability, sleep disruption and withdrawal. Excessive screen use does not cause ADHD or autism, but it worsens symptoms and delays recognition.
5. Academic-Centred School Culture: Examinations and rankings dominate school systems. Emotional regulation and stress management receive limited structured attention.

Concerns Emerging from the Crisis

1. Severe Specialist Shortage: India has fewer than 10,000 psychiatrists for a population exceeding 1.4 billion. Only a small proportion specialise in child mental health, and shortages of psychologists and psychiatric social workers deepen the gap.
2. Fragmented and Delayed Care: Families often manage complex conditions alone. Help is usually sought during crisis stages rather than at early warning signs.
3. Weak Institutional Detection: Paediatric consultations largely focus on physical growth. Emotional wellbeing, sleep patterns and screen use are not routinely examined.
4. Gap Between Research and Practice: India’s research base on child mental health and digital behaviour has grown steadily. However, translation into routine school and clinical practice remains slow.
5. Persistent Stigma: Fear of labelling and judgement prevents early care. Child psychiatry carries strong misunderstanding and hesitation.
6. Unequal Digital Health Access: Telepsychiatry has expanded reach, yet access remains uneven across underserved families.

Government Initiatives

1. Policy Recognition: The Economic Survey 2025–26 acknowledged rising mental health challenges among young people and proposed preventive strategies.
2. Existing National Platforms: The National Mental Health Programme, school health services under Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres, and tele-mental health initiatives provide a foundation for action.
3. State-Level Digital Regulation Efforts: Some States are considering regulatory limits on adolescent social media use. These efforts draw from global precedents and aim to balance protection with awareness.
4. Implementation Gaps: Despite platforms and policy acknowledgement, routine school screening, structured referral pathways and targeted child-focused funding remain limited.

What Should Be Done?

1. Routine School-Based Screening: Schools should integrate regular emotional and behavioural screening. Early detection can prevent severe outcomes.
2. Structured Professional Training: Teachers, counsellors and frontline workers must receive training to recognise warning signs and Internet-related harms. This becomes crucial in a system with limited child specialists.
3. Strengthened Referral Systems: Clear coordination between schools, paediatricians and mental health professionals is needed for timely support.
4. Trauma-Informed Parenting: Parents should observe changes in sleep, mood and social behaviour. Listening without judgement and seeking help early can alter developmental paths.
5. Community Support Networks: Parent support groups reduce isolation and normalise help-seeking. Adolescent peer groups build resilience and coping skills through shared learning.
6. Clear Digital Guidelines in Schools: Schools must set boundaries for healthy screen use. Human interaction should not be displaced during key developmental stages.
7. Dedicated Funding and Normalised Dialogue: Child mental health requires earmarked funding. Open conversations in families, schools and health systems must replace silence and stigma.

Conclusion

Child and adolescent mental health is central to India’s long-term social and economic stability. Rising disorders, digital overexposure and weak early detection demand coordinated action. Strengthening families, schools and health systems is urgent. Childhood must promote wellbeing, resilience and connection. Delayed response will lead to deeper social and developmental costs in the future.

Question for practice:

Examine the structural factors contributing to the rising burden of child and adolescent mental health problems in India, and evaluate the adequacy of institutional and policy responses in addressing this challenge.

Source: The Hindu