As Goa joins the global community in observing World Mental Health Day on Friday, it stands at the crossroads with an increasing number of mental health issues surfacing in the State, despite the glorious tag of “peace” and “harmony” associated with it. The increasing cases of hate and intolerance, fuelled by social media outreaches, are testimony to the fact that Goa is drifting further towards chaos. The commemoration of the day may be symbolic, but it certainly provides a moment to ponder, reflect, and look forward.
Far from its tranquil image, Goa surprisingly has a fast-growing mental health crisis that is caused by both systemic failures and societal issues. The figures from the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB) tell a grim story: more than 43,000 outpatient consultations in a year in 2024, with about 22,500 men and 20,300 women presenting themselves for psychiatric treatment at various centres, an alarming average of 120 per day. The data outlines a silent epidemic—a rise not just in numbers but in consciousness, that people are indeed shedding the stigma associated with the issue. But underlying these grim statistics is a deeper malaise: delayed infrastructure, inadequate resources, and poor community-based care.
Goa's mental health infrastructure, well-intentioned as it was, is sadly underprepared. The much-touted mental health day-care centre at Bambolim, promised more than two years ago, remains uncommissioned. Infrastructure, once reported ready, is now sitting idle due to red tape delays, staff shortages, and logistical logjams. The promise of increased mental health budgeting from the government—Rs 72 crore for 2023-24—seems paltry against the growing need. There is a yawning gap between promise and delivery of policy initiatives, and this exposes a basic failure in prioritizing mental health as a core aspect of healthcare.
Goa must prioritise mental health because the stress and anxiety are showing. We are a developing State tangled with myriad issues — land, development, tourism, narcotics, migrants, public resentment, unemployment, etc. Add to this the academic pressures. Given this backdrop, Goa needs to keep its primary focus on mental health. For now, the State is woefully falling short in meeting rising cases of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and psychiatric disorders.
Across the world, mental health is facing newer challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic has made the situation worse. Anxiety, fear, and depression skyrocketed, fuelled by social isolation, economic uncertainty, disinformation, and digital overloads. According to the World Health Organization, one in ten individuals worldwide lives with a mental disorder, with adolescents and young adults leading the pack. The digital era, though making information accessible and uniting us, has brought new dangers — cyberbullying, behavioural addictions, and disinformation, adding to the existing stressors.
Solving this epidemic needs a multi-dimensional response. Early intervention is essential first. Schools and workplaces need to take the initiative in screening and making mental health services accessible. Training people to manage adversity needs to be promoted. Proper use of technology and public awareness campaigns are needed to fight stigma and misinformation. Lastly, integrating mental health into the overall healthcare system by making it available at primary health centres and through telemedicine may help close the treatment gap.
Goa's mental health issue is representative of a worldwide dilemma that requires immediate, continued, and concerted effort. The high standard of living and the susegad way of life do not necessarily mean citizens don’t go through silent agonies. We must create an awareness that mental health is not an indulgence but a basic human right—one that calls for all of our determination to construct a resilient person, caring communities, and a caring health system.
