Dismissing the Myth of 'The Spirit of Bombay': Examining the Reality of Mental Health Issues in India
Key Highlights :
For years, Indians outside of Bombay have long congratulated the city for possessing something that isn’t real. They call it ‘the spirit of Bombay’, trotting it out like clockwork whenever something awful happens. When the city shuts down every year, it’s there in all the newspapers: our ‘spirit’ or ability to pick ourselves up and walk again. This is a collective delusion, and a strategy that has been honed and effectively deployed by politicians for the past few years. It is how con artists become Prime Ministers.
But what if this ‘spirit’ is actually a symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that a few million of us have been suffering from without being diagnosed? We have been exposed to so much that is shocking, and for so long, that it no longer registers as such. This isn’t just about acts of terror, but more a reference to the everyday horror of trying to stay alive and get through the day. Consider the majority and how they live: with no access to running water (in 2023), public transport that belies every statement about India being one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, and bureaucracy that has consistently made life harder, not easier for the common man.
Psychologists list multiple symptoms of PTSD. These include negative thoughts about oneself, other people or the world, hopelessness about the future, feelings of detachment from family and friends, trouble sleeping, self-destructive behaviour, irritability, and angry outbursts or aggressive behaviour. Take a local train from Virar to Churchgate on any day of the week, and list examples of these symptoms that you come across. The results may startle you.
A couple of years ago, The Lancet pointed out that while mental disorders are among the leading causes of non-fatal disease burden in this country, there was no systematic understanding of their prevalence. In 2017, for example, 197 million Indians had mental disorders, including 45 million with depressive disorders and 44 million with anxiety disorders. The Indian government spending on mental health allegedly accounts for 0.06 per cent of total health expenditure, or approximately 4 per cent of the national gross national product (GNP).
It’s time to dismiss references to the ‘spirit of Bombay’ and react with disbelief instead. Why should we have to rely on some mythical spirit instead of being allowed to live in peace and with dignity? What we need is better services and more effective governance, not access to this spirit.
The reality is that mental health issues are rampant in India, and it’s time to stop pretending that they don’t exist. We must acknowledge the rampant dissatisfaction that runs through this vast number of people, and take steps to ensure that mental health is given the attention and resources it deserves.
