India is witnessing a sharp surge in mental health problems, with the burden of disorders and associated disability almost doubling between 1990 and 2017, and signs of illness now emerging in early childhood, a senior AIIMS psychiatrist has warned. Citing a 2020 Lancet Psychiatry study that mapped the country’s mental health burden over nearly three decades, Dr Rajesh Sagar, Professor of Psychiatry at AIIMS, said that the situation has worsened further in the post-COVID period, with an upsurge in anxiety, depression and other conditions.
Dr Sagar expressed particular concern about rising suicide cases and emotional distress among children, stressing that the foundations of many adult mental illnesses are laid between the ages of 1 and 14. He noted that problems are often missed or left untreated in this age group, even as young children face mounting academic pressure, excessive screen time and multiple psychosocial stressors at home and school.
Explaining the behavioural and environmental triggers, the AIIMS expert pointed to changing family structures and lifestyles, with more nuclear families, both parents working and less time spent in direct engagement with children. Children are spending more hours in the virtual world than in real-life play, he said, which, along with academic stress and body image concerns, is fuelling anxiety, mood problems and other early-onset mental health issues.
Dr Sagar also highlighted the pivotal role of teachers in spotting early warning signs, describing them as “neutral” observers who can compare a child’s behaviour with that of classmates over time. Because parents may be emotionally biased or in denial about changes in their child, he said, teachers are often better placed to flag concerns and refer children for assessment when they notice withdrawal, behavioural shifts or academic decline.
Emphasising that school–home collaboration is critical, the AIIMS professor urged that parent–teacher meetings be used for more than just reviewing marks and classroom performance. He called for these forums to routinely address children’s emotional well-being and behavioural changes, arguing that early recognition and intervention can prevent lifelong consequences and help reduce India’s growing mental health burden.
