Blog, Resources & Articles
Short, sourced answers to common mental health questions, the research behind them, and where to get help in India. Written by the Mindly Health team from NHS, WHO and Government of India sources.
Last updated 8 November 2026
Articles
What to do during a panic attack
A panic attack is a sudden rush of intense fear with physical symptoms such as a racing heart and breathlessness. It feels frightening but is not…
AnxietySigns of depression: how to tell sadness from depression
Everyone feels low sometimes. Depression is low mood or loss of interest that lasts most of the day, nearly every day, for more than two weeks, and…
DepressionBurnout or depression? How they differ
Burnout is a work-related state of exhaustion, cynicism about your job and reduced effectiveness. The World Health Organization classifies it as an…
Work and stressADHD in adults: signs and when to get assessed
Adult ADHD shows up as trouble with attention and organisation, and sometimes restlessness or impulsiveness. Symptoms start in childhood, usually…
ADHDWhat is OCD? Signs and treatment
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition with unwanted, distressing thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours or mental acts…
OCDHow long do antidepressants take to work?
Antidepressants often start to help within one to two weeks and can take up to eight weeks to work fully. Treatment usually continues for at least…
MedicinesMental health helplines in India
In an emergency, call 112. For free mental health support at any hour, call Tele-MANAS, the Government of India helpline, on 14416 or 1-800-891-4416…
HelplinesWhat people ask psychiatrists: 12 common questions, answered
People often wonder whether they need a psychiatrist, whether they will be put on medicine, and who will find out. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor…
Seeing a psychiatristSigns of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is a long-term condition in which you feel anxious about many things, on most days, without being able to switch…
AnxietyBaby blues or postnatal depression?
Baby blues are a short spell of tearfulness and low mood in the first days after birth, and they usually pass within about two weeks. Postnatal…
PostpartumSigns of an anxiety disorder: when worry becomes a problem
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress, but it can become a disorder when it is constant, out of proportion to what is happening, or stops you doing…
AnxietyBipolar disorder: signs of the highs and the lows
Bipolar disorder is a condition in which a person has episodes of depression and episodes of unusually high or irritable mood and energy, called…
MoodMental health at work: warning signs and what helps
Work can protect mental health, but heavy workloads, long hours, little control and poor support can harm it. Warning signs include constant…
Work and stressTeenage mental health: signs parents should not ignore
Mental health conditions often begin in adolescence, and many go unrecognised. Changes that last more than a couple of weeks, such as low mood…
AdolescentsAutism in adults: signs and getting assessed
Autism is a lifelong difference in how a person communicates, interacts and experiences the world. Many adults, especially women, are diagnosed late…
AutismSocial anxiety: signs and how it differs from shyness
Social anxiety disorder is an intense, lasting fear of being judged or embarrassed in social situations, strong enough to make you avoid them or…
AnxietyHow to support someone with depression
If someone close to you may be depressed, listen without judging, take what they say seriously, and encourage them to see a doctor. Avoid telling…
DepressionGambling disorder: signs and where to get help
Gambling disorder is a pattern of gambling you cannot control, which carries on despite harm to your money, work or relationships. Signs include…
AddictionForgetfulness or dementia? Signs to watch for
Occasional forgetfulness is common at any age. Dementia is different: memory loss and confusion that get worse over time and start to affect daily…
Older adultsPsychosis and schizophrenia: early signs and treatment
Psychosis means losing touch with reality, for example hearing voices or holding strong beliefs that are not shared by others. Schizophrenia is one…
PsychosisOCD in children: signs parents can notice
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) can start in childhood, as early as around age 6. Children may repeat rituals such as washing, checking or…
OCDAlcohol and drug use: warning signs and where to get help
Alcohol or drug use becomes a problem when you use more than you intend, cannot cut down, or keep using despite harm to your health, work or…
AddictionCommon myths about mental illness, and the facts
Myths about mental illness stop many people from seeking help. The facts are that mental health conditions are common, they are medical conditions…
AwarenessPTSD: signs after a traumatic event
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after a very frightening or life-threatening event. Signs include re-living the event through…
TraumaGrief or depression? Coping after a loss
Grief is a natural response to losing someone or something important, and it can bring sadness, anger, numbness and trouble sleeping. It usually…
GriefTrouble sleeping? Insomnia and what helps
Insomnia means having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or waking too early, and feeling tired during the day. Short spells are common and often…
SleepExam stress: signs for students and parents
Some pressure before exams is normal. Exam stress is a concern when it brings constant dread, poor sleep, physical symptoms or hopelessness that…
StudentsOCD or just being careful? How to tell the difference
Being careful is a choice you can set aside when you are satisfied. OCD is driven by unwanted fear, feels impossible to stop, and takes up time and…
OCDADHD in women: why diagnosis is so often missed
ADHD in women is often missed because it tends to look like quiet inattention, overwhelm or anxiety rather than hyperactivity, and because girls…
ADHDBurnout in IT professionals in Bengaluru: signs and what helps
Burnout is exhaustion, cynicism about work and reduced effectiveness that come from chronic workplace stress. It is common in Bengaluru's technology…
BurnoutHow to find a Kannada-speaking psychiatrist online
Look for a registered psychiatrist who lists Kannada, check their registration on the National Medical Commission register, and ask about the concern…
Finding careWhat ERP therapy for OCD involves
Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is a form of cognitive behavioural therapy in which you face feared triggers in small steps while choosing not…
OCDADHD medication: seven myths, and what we know
ADHD medicine is not a cure and not for everyone, but it is effective for many people when prescribed and monitored by a doctor. Most fears, such as…
ADHD
Research and official guidance
- National Mental Health Survey of India, 2015-16: Summary
NIMHANS and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. About 10.6% of adults had a mental disorder at the time of the survey, and about 13.7% at some point in their lives, with large treatment gaps. - The burden of mental disorders across the states of India: the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2017
The Lancet Psychiatry, 2020. A state-by-state study of how mental disorders affect health across India. - Teletherapy versus in-person psychotherapy for depression: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
PubMed. A review of randomised trials comparing video therapy with in-person therapy for depression. - Telemedicine Practice Guidelines, 2020
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, with NITI Aayog. The rules for online consultations by registered doctors in India. - The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017
Government of India. The law that protects the rights of people with mental illness in India. - WHO India: Depression
World Health Organization. WHO facts on depression, its causes and its treatment.
See the research page and videos from trusted sources
Free helplines in India
- 112: 112. National emergency number: police, ambulance and fire, 24 hours.
- Tele-MANAS (Government of India): 14416 or 1-800-891-4416. Free, confidential mental health support, 24 hours, in many Indian languages.
- iCall (TISS): 9152987821. Free counselling by psychologists, Monday to Saturday, 8 AM to 9 PM IST. Closed on Sundays.
- Vandrevala Foundation: +91 9999 666 555. Free mental health helpline, 24 hours, every day, by phone call or WhatsApp.
- NIMHANS psychosocial support helpline: 080-46110007. NIMHANS free psychosocial support helpline, 24 hours.
- Child Helpline 1098 (Ministry of Women and Child Development): 1098. Free, 24-hour helpline for children in distress, including counselling, rescue and emergency help. Linked with 112.
More guides: patient guides, resources, conditions we treat.
Mindly Health is not an emergency service. If someone is in immediate danger, call 112 or go to the nearest hospital. For free support at any hour, call Tele-MANAS on 14416.