Mental illnesses are conditions involving changes in how a person thinks, feels or behaves, or a combination of these, resulting in distress and/or problems in one’s functioning. Although the symptoms of mental illness can range from mild to severe and are different depending on the type of mental illness, a person with an untreated mental illness is often unable to cope with the daily routines and demands of life.

Mental illness is far more common than you think. Globally, more than 300 million people suffer from depression, and 260 million suffer from anxiety disorders. A study by the World Health Organization found that such disorders cost the global economy $1 trillion in lost productivity each year. In a given year, it is estimated that 1 in 5 adults will experience mental illness and 1 in 25 adults will experience a serious mental illness. In India, at least 13.7 per cent of India’s general population has been projected to be suffering from a variety of mental illnesses.