The mental health industry has been growing in India. But many who do not conform to social
norms say their experiences have left them feeling invalidated.
A student based in Mumbai sought therapy after coming out to her family as a lesbian. "It was a
terrible time in my life. My father had disowned me, and I was guilty all the time. I felt I was
letting my family down," Alina, using an alias, told DW. The 25-year-old said seeking help had
left her feeling invalidated, uncertain and low in self-esteem. "My therapist at the time told me that
my father only wants what is good for me, and I should apologize to him. This made me feel as if
I should be ashamed of my sexuality." After a couple of sessions, Alina stopped seeing the
therapist.
Mental health in India still has a stigma attached to it and therapists do not always help to reduce
this. (Manpreet Romana/AFP)
"I have now luckily found a supportive queer community and a better therapist," Alina added. "A
lot of counsellors and therapists advertise that they are queer-friendly, but they really are not. This
is quite dangerous to the mental health of so many individuals, especially those coming from
traditional or restrictive families."
Same-sex marriage debate in India
As India's top court debates same-sex marriage, the Indian Psychiatric Society has extended its
support for the cause of equal rights. In 2018, the umbrella body issued a statement saying
homosexuality was a variant of normal sexuality and not an illness, adding that members of the
LGBTQIA+ community should be treated equally.
However, some practitioners still carry outdated views when it comes to sexuality.
"Psy disciplines are historically based on social norms, and treatments were used as a way to
correct or punish," says Raj Mariwala, director of the Mariwala Health Initiative. "Women used to
be diagnosed with hysteria. There are remnants of it even now. The average just happens to be cis
heterosexual and able-bodied. The discipline has not looked beyond making practitioners
structurally competent, and there are massive gaps in the care provided," he told DW.
Rising mental health awareness
According to estimates by the World Health Organization, 56 million Indians suffer from
depression and about 38 million suffer from anxiety disorders. Mental health awareness is on the
rise, especially in urban India. A study by UnivDatos Market Insights shows that the mental health
industry is expected to grow at an annual rate of 15% for the years 2022-2028.
Sriram, 30, shared his reasons for not having children with his psychiatrist.
"After a few sessions, when the topic came up again, she said I didn't want kids because I was
selfish. I didn't understand how it impacted me at that point in time. It was only when I went to a
different therapist that I was able to understand what a terrible experience I had," he told DW.
"She also discarded my porn addiction as normal. I wouldn't recommend her to anyone. She would
often share stories of other patients with me, which meant she shared my stories to others as well,"
he said.
"Being single and, or, childfree, are choices that therapists are supposed to respect, just as any
other choices that the client makes," Harini Prasad, a consultant psychologist at Chinmaya Mission
Hospital, told DW. "But if it's a counsellor who hasn't identified their biases and take supervision,
judgments can creep into the work."
'Harmful' advice
Ritika, a media professional, decided to get tested for Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD) as an adult. After going through a range of expensive and time-consuming behavioural
assessment tests assigned to her by a mental health clinic, she got results that did not mention the
disorder. She was told that she had generalized anxiety and mild depression, for which she was
already in therapy and taking medication for.
"I have struggled with neurodivergencymy entire life, and I finally sought out the evaluation when
every aspect of my life was being affected," Ritika said. "But the psychologist I consulted had no
practical knowledge of the condition at all. Moreover, these tests attempted to analyze me in ways
that felt hurtful and offensive. It said I struggle with communication and therefore have trouble
forming lasting relationships. I work in the communications field, have a strong support system
and have been with my partner for a decade. So I don't know where the assessment was coming
from. They could have gotten more from just talking to me. It was not only useless but also
harmful."
When Ritika questioned the fact that ADHD was not mentioned, she was informed that she "did
not qualify" for it. "The entire process left me furious and invalidated," she said.
She later sought a consultation from a professional who had been recommended to her and had a
much better experience.
"Now I only seek out professionals who come personally recommended by someone I trust," she
added.
The Indian Mental Health Care Act of 2017 provides individuals with the right to make complaints
about deficiencies in provision of services.
The Mariwala Health Initiative (MHI) conducts a Queer Affirmative Counselling Practice course,
through which it has already trained some 500 mental health professionals in India. It lists the
names of practitioners who have completed the course on its website. "Being queer, caste,
disability friendly cannot be limited to one course. Professionals in the field should practice
allyship and update themselves regularly and consistently," it says.
When it comes to "bad therapy," professionals say people should not let this discourage them from
seeking help.
"Clients need to trust how they feel around the therapist, counsellor, psychiatrist. The same person
may not be a good fit for everyone who needs support. Ask for credentials, ask for what approaches
the counsellor uses and what their consent policy is. Most importantly, you—the client—should
feel respected, your choices are respected, and communication is respectful," said Prasad.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/why-many-indians-dont-trust-mental-healthadvice-
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