Blog

by Meet Trivedi

Picture this:You’re 22, it’s 2 AM. You’re scrolling through Instagram, not because you’re addicted, but because sleep— Sleep to you is like a Ferrari to a middle-class soul: luxurious, distant, and only seen in dreams. 

You chase the unchaseable every night—normal dreams, clarity, peace. And one random morning, you finally decide to rise. To fight back. To risk it all—the pain, the setbacks, the silent battles. 

But life hits you with a classic: "Zyada mat soch… kuch kaam-dhanda kar… pura din phone mein pada rehta hai." 

Welcome to desi-Indian reality. Same family that dragged you to three different doctors when you had a fever for two days? Suddenly goes radio silent when your mind is the patient. Welcome to India's mental health reality check – where physical pain gets sympathy, but emotional pain gets dismissed as "drama." 

The Silent Battles We're All Fighting 

These struggles aren't happening in some distant place – they're in your middle-class home where academic pressure feels like a noose. They're in metro cities where success anxiety keeps you up at night. They're in mandirs and mosques where you pray for peace but dismiss professional help as "unspiritual." 

Mental health doesn't discriminate based on your postcode or paycheck. The software engineer in Bangalore dealing with imposter syndrome, the college student in Delhi having panic attacks before exams, the new mom in Mumbai battling postpartum depression – we're all fighting invisible wars that society refuses to acknowledge. 

The worst part? We're doing it alone, thinking we're the only ones struggling, when literally everyone around us is fighting similar battles. 

The Indian Stigma: Pressure, Perceptions & ‘Log Kya Kahenge’ That infamous phrase, "Log Kya Kahenge?" (What will people say?), is more than just a harmless saying; it functions as an invisible chain binding millions of Indian minds. 

As Nikita Taniparti puts it: 

“If people’s vulnerabilities become public knowledge, they will invite judgement, gossip and drama. It also suppresses much‑needed psychological care.” 

Only ~7% of India’s 365M youth report mental health struggles, despite 1 in 5 facing them globally. 

Why? Because here: 

● “Be strong” = suppress it all 

● Sadness = drama 

● Therapy = luxury 

● Anxiety? = “Just chill!” 

It’s time we stop calling healing a trend and start calling silence what it really is—dangerous. 

Gen Z & Millennials: The Generation That Said "Enough" 

We’re the generation that grew up online—watching global conversations unfold, sharing our insecurities in memes, DMs, and stories. And slowly, we began flipping the script. 

We’re done with “log kya kahenge?” and the emotional constipation disguised as strength. We’ve seen enough of “be strong” meaning “suffer in silence.” 

Now, we’re building safe spaces—group chats, Insta circles, Reddit threads—where breakdowns aren’t judged, they’re understood. 

As one advocate said: 

“Young adults in India work hard to create a safe space… [using] social media… to spread awareness and amplify the voices of those affected.” 

We tag each other in mental health posts. We know sadness isn’t “drama” and therapy isn’t a “trend.” Even when grandpa scoffs, we keep talking. 

Because for us, work equals identity, burnout is real, and pretending everything’s fine doesn’t cut it anymore. 

We’re not just surviving—we’re quietly rewiring generations of silence. One open conversation at a time. 

Mental Health Isn't a Trend. It's Survival. Mental health isn’t optional. It’s not “being too sensitive,” not a Western fad—it’s survival. In a world that’s only getting louder and harder, your mind deserves care. 

Your struggles are valid. Needing help isn’t weakness—it’s being human. It’s time we normalize talking about our mental state like we do the weather. Let therapy be as routine as a health check. Let vulnerability be the new vibe, and honesty the new flex. 

Because honestly? We’re tired of pretending everything’s fine when it’s not. 

This is your sign: No more suffering in silence. Let’s break the silence bred by “Log kya kahenge?” and outdated myths of strength. 

The numbers speak for themselves—over 12,500 student suicides annually, and 1 in 5 Indians potentially battling depression. The cost of silence is too high. 

This generation holds the blueprint for a better tomorrow—where mental health is a right, not a luxury. The revolution starts with a single honest conversation. Let’s build that world together.