56 million Indians suffer from depression

36 million suffer from anxiety attacks

50 per cent of corporate India suffers from chronic stress

Nine out of 10 of those who need help are uncared for

Esplanade: A team of psychologists and counsellors from Caring Minds shared these statistics at a campaign to mark World Mental Health Day at American Center recently.

The programme was aimed at breaking stigma and giving the audience a reality check about mental health issues. Cases of anxiety attacks, depression and mood disorders are on the rise but few seek professional help, the experts said. Personal stories were exchanged and common terms such as depression, phobia and resilience defined.

Minu Budhia, the founder-director of Caring Minds, a mental health facility, began the evening by sharing her personal journey. She spoke of how the birth of her second daughter, Prachi, a child with special needs, changed the meaning of her life. "Prachi could not sit still in playschool. We were flooded with complaints. Those were the first tell-tale signs," she said.

"My family battled the trauma of a label attached to Prachi. I realised the importance of overcoming the stigma," Budhia said. She confessed she went into a depression and cut herself off from people, as an initial reaction to Prachi's diagnosis. "I transformed when I accepted Prachi with her special needs and tried to help her," she said.

Thus was born her dream of an inclusive world. "The best way to deal with mental health issues is to speak out. Stop labelling people as crazy. Let's not be part of the problem," said daughter, Preeyam, also part of Caring Minds.

Ushnaa Ghatak and Atrayee Chandra of Caring Minds explained some mental health conditions - mood disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety disorder - and their first signs. "Children can suffer from depression and schizophrenia and require medication and counselling," said Ghatak. "Not everybody suffering from mental illness is violent."

Among the guests were the US consul-general in Calcutta, Craig Hall, and his wife Meeryung who also shared their personal journey with a son who has special needs.

The programme ended with the guests and organisers together taking a pledge to break the stigma surrounding mental health.