The Silent Epidemic

Why Mental Health Awareness Can't Wait

Disclaimer: This post is not intended to blame, judge, or speculate about the pilots or crew of AI 171. My heart goes out to all the families affected by this tragedy. Instead, I want to use this moment to highlight a critical issue that affects millions of Indians daily - our collective neglect of mental health and its far-reaching consequences.

The recent AI 171 tragedy has shaken us all. As investigators examine the preliminary findings suggesting possible deliberate pilot action, it has forced an uncomfortable but necessary conversation about mental health in our society.

The Invisible Crisis

Mental health issues in India are personal, intimate struggles that millions of us carry in silence. Let me share my own story.

After finishing 12th standard, I joined a college that I absolutely hated. Every day felt like a burden, but I couldn't bring myself to tell my parents. The thought of disappointing them, of admitting that their investment in my education felt wrong, seemed impossible. So instead, I did what many of us do - I kept my feelings locked inside.

For an entire year, I would leave home at 9 AM as if going to college, but instead, I would spend those hours sitting on the roof of our house. From 9 to 5, every single day. I was trapped in a cycle of shame, unable to communicate with the people who loved me most. I couldn't even find the words to express what I was feeling to my own parents. The isolation was suffocating, but somehow it felt safer than the vulnerability of honest conversation.

This isn't unique to me. Mental health issues are the uncle who flies into uncontrollable rage at family gatherings. They're the colleague who snaps at the slightest provocation. They're the neighbor whose road rage incidents have become neighborhood gossip. They're the friend who's been "moody" for months but brushes off concern with "I'm fine." They're the young adult who sits alone on a rooftop, unable to bridge the gap between their inner turmoil and their family's expectations.

We've normalized what should alarm us. In Indian society, we've created a dangerous vocabulary around mental health deterioration:

• Irritability becomes "he's always been short-tempered"

• Anger management issues become "he's passionate about his work"

• Road rage becomes "driving in India is stressful for everyone"

• Mood swings become "he's just going through a phase"

• Emotional volatility becomes "he's very emotional, very artistic"

Most concerning of all, we've gendered mental health symptoms. A man's inability to control his anger is often dismissed as "manliness" or "being strong-willed." Aggression is celebrated as leadership. Emotional unavailability is praised as stoicism.

The Epidemic Hiding in Plain Sight

Recent studies suggest that India faces one of the highest rates of mental health disorders globally, yet we have some of the lowest rates of treatment and awareness. What's even more alarming is that this mental health crisis is fueling another epidemic we're more familiar with - the rising rates of blood pressure, heart attacks, and hypertension in Indian society.

Chronic stress, unmanaged anger, persistent anxiety, and emotional volatility wreak havoc on our cardiovascular system. We've been treating these physical ailments as separate health issues, prescribing medications for blood pressure and heart conditions while ignoring the mental health roots that often trigger and sustain them. It's rather about the broader spectrum of mental wellness that affects how we:

• Handle stress and pressure

• Manage relationships and communication

• Process emotions and setbacks

• Make decisions under pressure

• Maintain perspective during crises

India's rising epidemic of lifestyle diseases - particularly hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes - cannot be divorced from our mental health crisis. While we focus on diet and exercise, we're missing a crucial piece: the role of chronic stress, unmanaged emotions, and poor mental health in driving these physical ailments.

Why This Matters Now

The AI 171 tragedy, regardless of its ultimate cause, has reminded us that mental health is a societal issue. People in positions of responsibility - whether they're pilots, doctors, teachers, parents, or leaders - carry the wellbeing of others in their hands. Their mental health directly impacts public safety and social stability.

But we can't just focus on high-stakes professions. The teenager who's been "acting out" might be showing signs of depression. The employee who's become increasingly difficult might be struggling with anxiety. The family member who's been more aggressive lately might be dealing with overwhelming stress. The young adult who's stopped communicating with their family might be drowning in shame and isolation, just as I was.

My year on the rooftop is a reminder: mental health struggles don't announce themselves clearly. They hide behind routine, behind the appearance of normalcy, behind our inability to articulate what we're experiencing. If we can't even speak to our parents about our struggles, how can we expect to address them in workplaces, schools, or communities?

Moving Beyond Awareness to Action

Real change requires:

1. Destigmatization: We need to separate mental health from weakness or character flaws. Mental health is health. Period.

2. Early intervention: Instead of waiting for crises, we need systems that identify and address mental health concerns early.

3. Comprehensive support: This means accessible therapy, workplace mental health programs, community support systems, and family education.

4. Cultural shift: We need to redefine strength to include emotional intelligence, vulnerability, and help-seeking behavior.

5. Systemic changes: From school curriculums that teach emotional regulation to workplace policies that prioritize mental wellness over just productivity.

The Path Forward

The conversation around AI 171 will eventually fade from headlines, but the underlying issues won't disappear. We have an opportunity now to channel our collective attention toward building a society that prioritizes mental wellness before it becomes a crisis.

It's about recognizing that mental health affects every aspect of our lives and society. It's about understanding that the person struggling with their mental health could be our colleague, our family member, or ourselves.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, please reach out to mental health professionals, helplines, or support groups. Help is available, and seeking it is a sign of strength, not weakness.