Why India Didn’t Understand Anxiety & Depression For Years

In this eye-opening conversation on Business Today TV, Aabha Bakaya speaks with Neerja Birla about how India’s understanding of mental health has transformed over the past decade. From a time when silence and stigma prevented even basic conversations, to today where individuals and organisations are actively seeking support, the shift has been significant. Birla explains how many people earlier did not even recognise symptoms of anxiety or depression, often dismissing them as stress, fatigue or lack of motivation. She also highlights the lack of awareness across both rural and urban India, and how mental health literacy became the first crucial step. Today, while conversations have opened up and more people are reaching out for help, the journey is still ongoing. This discussion offers a powerful look at how far we’ve come — and how far we still need to go.