India’s Youth Mental Health Crisis: Demographic Dividend or Distress? | Vantage with Palki Sharma
India calls itself a young nation, banking on its demographic dividend. But a new global study ranking 84 countries reveals a troubling reality: Indian youth (18–34) rank 60th in mental health, with a Mind Health Quotient (MHQ) of just 33. Meanwhile, Indians above 55 score 96 — nearly triple. Researchers describe this as a structural generational shift, not a temporary slump. Young adults are struggling with emotional control, focus, relationships, and stress recovery. Rising ultra-processed food consumption and early smartphone exposure are key factors. Palki Sharma tells you more.
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India | Youth | Mental Health | Mind Health Quotient (MHQ) | Firstpost | World News | News Live | Vantage | Palki Sharma | News
#india #youth #mhq #mentalhealth #firstpost #vantageonfirstpost #palkisharma #worldnews
Vantage is a ground-breaking news, opinions, and current affairs show from Firstpost. Catering to a global audience, Vantage covers the biggest news stories from a 360-degree perspective, giving viewers a chance to assess the impact of world events through a uniquely Indian lens.
The show is anchored by Palki Sharma, Managing Editor, Firstpost.
By breaking stereotypes, Vantage aims to challenge conventional wisdom and present an alternative view on global affairs, defying the norm and opening the door to new perspectives. The show goes beyond the headlines to uncover the hidden stories – making Vantage a destination for thought-provoking ideas.
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40 Comments
With school education which is useless in the society, our youth need to spend hrs and hrs on upgrading themselves learning skills for jobs and then keep grinding for employers for nearly 24 hrs a day under the name of package,
to survive in the society one needs big money for housing relationships. medication food etc, marriages and relationships becoming more toxic, lack of financial support from family and society for personal goals, 0 work like balance lack of time for personal needs, small and/or big loans. constant pressure to perform – how a person can have Normal mindset ? One constantly wishes to make a change either for more money or to run away from suffocating life –
After 33, one understands himself and life better, cuts down on expenses and plan better and
Actually accepts many aspects of his/her life
So mental issues get sorted
Also today's generation is pampered with choices and now used to hard work at home in daily life as parents do it for them
So they misunderstand the basics of life totally and by looking at life.society thru phone screens (biased) they may fail to know the reality.
This world has created a golden cage around us and we are sadly happy with it
Time has come to set ourselves free
Anxiety due to many reasons… Main reason is not getting stable in their life after their studies and harsh competition in our society, no proper sleep due to tension. Praying will give relief j
Indians have had mental issues for ages, they were suppressed inside themselves! Awareness is coming through in recent years!
The Indian young people are always stressed because of relatives comparitive society
Knowledge less education
Unemployment
Fake relatives
Job system government
God this is worst generation to live
It's not about country it's about system and hell people
Damn I also tested, and mine was 33 too
This is due to fanatic govts and govt services. everywhere curruption. Politics on religion and caste. There are only two groups in INDIA.One group so called upper class control all govt bodies and used another so called upper elite peoples to cover . Only govt people and and politician and rowdies can be live india feely and happily. No one can live decent live by studying and working hard and lving with honesty. All media became dirty . all the day spread fake negative news. There is no single channel telling news as news. No values for intelligents or hard working peopele. Politicians , govt servants , Cinema and media people and some sports like cricketes earns crores of money. Others just work for them to make their rich. on the way they get some wages to survive and to continue to service and needed to vote in elections.
I feel that your tone only makes it only drop by one point!
The cause for it can be the laws and rules created by the goverments and law makers. In the past the children were made to face life. But what is happening now.? Can the parents look at their children bit seriously? Are they facing poverty of the families? Are they left to have a proper family ? Now we have become so selfish. We two for us one. This is the policy followed by many parents. So children are pampered too much. They are not allowed to face the realities of life. Allow the parents and teachers to punish the children when they do wrong.v let them quarrel each other, fight each other. This will build a strong mental health and friendship among the children.
The biggest reason being a youth is UNEMPLOYMENT.
Maybe Rest in peace Better all ✨
Reservations must be removed for bachelors and higher education, jobs etc. There is lot of pressure on open category students
There are no enough playgrounds and gardens where kids can play freely. Builders leave very less space for play area. There are no community play areas. Kids are left to play with mobiles. Eating junk food is also one of major reason
Reducing screen time, eating the right food and sleep enough can only solve this issue.
The amount of trauma we have gone through..the result doesn't shock me at all.
Obviously youngsters have pressure about career money and other things. Especially in this era of unstable economy war where no job guarantee youngsters not have stable mind.
Trauma passed by Older generations
More than half of them are unemployed preparing for govt. jobs unskilled victim of education system and communal politics…And ofcourse social media.
We are modern time slaves
Oh my god
Now a days childers are behaving that they know everything.
YEAH DON'T DEAL WITH ANYONE BORN AFTER 2005. THEY MAKE STUPID DECISIONS BASED ON EMOTION. THEY CAN THROW AWAY THEIR LIFE IN SPLIT OF A SECOND.
Social Media plays an important role in poor mental health of todays people. For Example, i had become a bts army for a girl because i liked her, i started posting stories of bts, it was during lockdown i did this, when i went to school i was called chakke. Trust me i was never a bts army, i had just become fan for her so that she would like me. The last few years were like hell in the school.
IDK What you want to hear or anythinggg but this is all shit. you guys millenials don't know what is work life and balance you guys don't give a shit all you want is just work and work with very very very less payyyyy i am so tired of this country just for 1 single job there is 1000+ applications like are you okay? this country is doing okay? I am just fucking 23 and it feels like shittt so shut upppp. we people are tired. its all either ai or you millennials.
My father is 50 years old, an honest and deligent officer and till many years of service he has never suffered at office untill that one head officer who has joined for last 3 years.
I feel so helpless seeing him like that when he tries his best not to show his agony.
Workplace harassment can happen at any place, at any age, by any gender.
Social media is biggest cause.
Competition is everywhere because of more people for less opportunities. Because of this, the youth are not able to enjoy life. No matter how much physical activity is encouraged there will always be students who would say they have to study for the next exam, or in case of workplace, they need to complete it before the unrealistic deadline. It's not that youth doesn't want to improve and love happily, it's that if we don't swim as hard as we can, we will drown in this fast flowing river. And no matter how hard we swim, some of us only manage to stay afloat.
Comes a time in life where reality hits you directly without any roadblocks or warnings, that moment forward the world becomes transparent to you, with all its ugliness and cruel indwellings. It's fated.
You are to live here long, long enough till you tire yourself out.
Wokeism reservation policies have of government and ignorance for intellectual joint family system is destroyed where parents were helpful
Girls have no education about how to live with husband how to run the house
how much of this could we correlate to dating apps? Or just the paradox of choice? Having too many options to browse while consuming content or knowing that there is someone better out there – I believe certainly impacts transactions, relationships and consumption experiences in general leading to mental fatigue which directly impacts our focus and attention
Fantastic topic to bring to surface reality, delivered even more fantastically by Palki.
Mentally fit is none😢
It's the parents that cause this stress among their kids. "Get the best grades, get government job, marry good girl, have children, take care of us in our old age!" Parents don't realize how difficult all this is in today's times, especially in the job market. Working endless hours for shit pay.
All I hear was that after 34 years you are not longer young 😅
how can a study on 78000 candidates from 1.47 billion people justify the study. 78000 is 0.0056% of 1.4 billion. its like a headphone is good becoz it was given 9.5 stars by only 7 people. come on yaar
Mobile excesses use. No sibling or one sibling in hindus, food adulteration, junk food n alcohol etc r reasons. Govt must stop these.
Because of no job
No work
No financial support
No workplace
These reasons youth are dipressed😢😢
04:10 Min: "…. and with that, real world coping skills are weakening." –> Bam.
Dear sister PS , You are simply great, the topic you cover , the facts and the way you narrates it, is quite useful to every family . Hats off to you 🙏
Young indian are more following western culture than their own.
It's all related to massive over population. Higher population lowered possibilities of getting jobs and possibilities of getting good salaries. This also increased home prices and land prices beyond reach. 'Rich like me' are getting richer very fast and 'poor like me' is getting poorer very fast.