This Indian City Ranks Really Low On World Mental Health Index
It's quite surprising that Hyderabad, famous for its thriving IT industry, is facing a decline in mental health. The 'Mental State of the World Report 2024′ by Washington DC-based Sapien Labs places Hyderabad among the bottom-ranking metropolitan cities in India for mental well-being. The study highlights a concerning mental health crisis, particularly among the youth of Hyderabad.
Sapien Labs' report indicates that Hyderabad scored only 58.3 points on the Mental Health Quotient (MHQ) scale, considerably below the average score of 63.
Meanwhile, Delhi occupies the second-lowest position with 54.4 points. This report, based on responses from over 75,000 people aged 18 to 55+, paints a concerning picture.
The MHQ scale classifies mental health from 'distressed' to 'thriving', with Hyderabad's average falling between 'sustainable' and 'manageable'.
One of the report's key findings highlights that 32 percent of Hyderabad residents fall into the 'conflicting' category, characterised by poor emotional relationships, high stress, and low mental performance.
Sapien Labs director Shailendra Swaminathan notes that the most affected are youth and adults, whose numbers are particularly alarming. The study identifies several major contributors to the mental health crisis among the youth.
According to the report, the breakdown of social bonds and excessive smartphone usage are significant factors. Overuse of smartphones is associated with issues such as sadness, anxiety, and aggression at a young age.
Additionally, smartphone exposure disrupts sleep and increases sensitivity to harmful content, including cyberbullying and online predators. This habit also negatively impacts diet and overall health.
The report further states that pesticides and microplastics commonly found in food and water pose risks to brain development, particularly affecting children. The findings underscore the serious deterioration of mental health in Hyderabad and emphasise the urgent need to address its causes.
First Published:
April 22, 2025, 16:48 IST
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
23 minutes ago
- NDTV
Woman Denied Boarding At Miami Airport Due To Cosmetic Procedure, Airline Responds
A woman claimed that she was denied boarding by Spirit Airlines at Miami International Airport Wednesday afternoon because of concerns over a cosmetic procedure she underwent days earlier. The Houston-based woman, named Shataria Banks, captured a video of her confrontation at the Spirit Airlines desk at the airport. "Even though y'all have my medical clearance, even though my doctor's-y'all are still restricting me to fly," Banks is heard saying in the video. While speaking to CBS News, she said she had arrived in Miami from Houston last week for a cosmetic procedure. She didn't reveal details about the procedure and preferred to keep it private. She came to the airport with documentation from her doctor clearing her to fly after several days of recovery. However, she was told that she would not be allowed to board when she tried to check in. "Well, we don't have it in writing-verbatim-from their spirit supervisor. It was just how I was treated on top of them just neglecting what my doctor said," Banks said, describing the exchange with Spirit employees. Here's what the airline said: "The safety and well-being of our Guests is our top priority. Our records show the agents followed our procedures and consulted with a designated on-call medical professional via our vendor MedLink to verify the Guest's fitness to travel," Spirit Airlines said in a statement. "The medical professional at MedLink was informed of the Guest's documentation and advised that the Guest was not fit to travel based on their condition at the time and in the interest of their safety. The Guest was ultimately issued a refund for the flight." As per the report, Banks said that she understands the need for safety; however, she called for clearer protocols. "I'm not saying that they can't deny their travelers and they're looking out for their safety, but have something in place, because everybody don't have money to waste for a new flight. I never want to fly with them, ever, ever," she said. The airline paid her the refund.
Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
Her heart stopped for 17 minutes; what she experienced next was eerie. Later, rare genetic disorder got diagnosed
What She Saw While Unconscious Resuscitation and a Rare Diagnosis Pregnancy, Crisis, and Transplant What began as a regular boot camp session for Victoria Thomas turned into a near-death experience that changed her life. After suffering cardiac arrest and being unresponsive for 17 minutes, the UK-based fitness enthusiast was revived by emergency responders. Her path to recovery led to a diagnosis of a rare genetic disease, multiple heart failures, and eventually, a life-saving to The Mirror, Victoria, then 35, had just completed a weightlifting session at her gym in Gloucester when she began feeling light-headed and weak. She told a friend she felt her energy drain entirely, and moments later, she collapsed. Paramedics arrived within minutes and began CPR. As the minutes passed without a heartbeat, concerns grew that she might not reported by The Mirror, Victoria later recalled a surreal out-of-body experience during the cardiac arrest. She described the sensation of everything going black, followed by an awareness of hovering above her body. From that vantage point, she saw herself lying on the gym floor with yellow equipment nearby. She did not experience any feelings of calm or see any lights—only the eerie sight of her lifeless form as others tried to save personnel were eventually able to restart her heart after 17 minutes. She was taken to Bristol Royal Infirmary and placed in a coma for three days. After waking, she was fitted with a defibrillator to manage potential future episodes. Over the following months, her heart stopped several times, with the device activating each time to restart wasn't until 2021, when she became pregnant, that doctors finally discovered the cause of her repeated cardiac arrests. As The Mirror detailed, she was diagnosed with Danon disease—a rare genetic disorder that affects the heart, muscles, and other organs. Victoria was the first in her family to be diagnosed with the pregnancy placed significant strain on her already weakened heart, leading to regular cardiac arrests. At 30 weeks, an emergency caesarean was performed to deliver her son, Tommy. Though he arrived prematurely, he was healthy and has since tested negative for the 2022, tests revealed that Victoria's heart was functioning at just 11 percent, an indicator of end-stage heart failure . Doctors informed her she likely had only months left to live. Then, in April 2023, she received a heart transplant, giving her a new chance at life.
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
'We need a healthcare regulator to oversee pricing and practices'
After having spent over four decades in insurance, G Srinivasan has taken on a new challenge as MD and CEO of Galaxy Health Insurance, a Chennai-based standalone health insurer backed by the TVS Group and Star Health founder V Jagannathan. Srinivasan, former CMD of United India and New India Assurance, spoke to The New Indian Express about Galaxy's strategies, targets, market dynamics, and challenges. What led to the launch of Galaxy Health Insurance? The idea was spearheaded by the TVS family and V Jagannathan, who built Star Health into a market leader. Both bring immense credibility. They believed there is still a huge gap in health insurance. Around 40% of India's population remains uninsured, and among those inured, many are underinsured. For instance, a ₹5 lakh cover isn't enough anymore when health care costs are skyrocketing. A short hospital stay can wipe it out. We want to address this in four ways -- by improving penetration in underinsured regions; by designing practical, need-based products; by focusing on wellness; and by ensuring fair and full claim settlement. How quickly have you scaled up since launch? The company was set up in March, 2024. We got our license in under 50 days. By October, we issued our first policy. In just 8–9 months, we have expanded to 65 offices across eight states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, and Uttar Pradesh. At present, we have 350 employees, 9,000 agents, and have already covered around one lakh lives. Our goal this year is Rs 200 crore in premium. What is your product strategy? So far, we have launched eight products. Galaxy Promise, our flagship, comes in three variants. Galaxy Marvel is a base plan with add-ons, while our Top-Up product allows customers to enhance coverage at low cost. We have tailored plans for senior citizens, NBFC customers, and group clients. Disease-specific plans for cancer, cardiac care, and diabetes are on the drawing board. We are targeting 90% of our business from retail. For young buyers, we offer a standout feature — if there are no claims, the premium remains constant till age 55. That is rare in this market and encourages early adoption. Are micro-insurance products part of your roadmap? Absolutely. We are rolling out a rural-focused plan in the next 2–3 months. It will be affordable and cater to people using small nursing homes. We are also exploring bite-sized covers like personal accident and critical illness, especially through our corporate agency partners. It is essential to make insurance accessible for underserved populations. Why are premiums rising and what is the way forward? Healthcare costs are rising because there is no regulation. Unlike other sectors, there is no central authority controlling hospital rates or standardising treatment protocols. Health is split between the Centre and states, creating gaps. The Central government has developed a National Claims Exchange for transparent claims processing. All insurers are on board, but only a few hospitals have joined. Beyond tech, we need a healthcare regulator, someone to oversee pricing and practices. Without that, health care costs will rise and consequently premiums will continue to rise, and customers will suffer. How is Galaxy Health handling claims? Claims are a pain point for many, but we have made it our strength. Our products cover even consumables—often excluded elsewhere—so customers get nearly 100% of their expenses reimbursed. In the last 7–8 months, we have settled 200–250 claims with full transparency. We support the regulator's move to allow cashless claims even at non-network hospitals. How do you deal with outpatient care? Most policies only cover inpatient treatment. But a huge chunk of health spending goes to OPD —doctor visits, diagnostics, medicines. We have launched an OPD product that covers consultations, telemedicine, labs, and pharmacies. It has been well received. True health insurance must include both in-patient and outpatient care, plus daycare procedures, which we also cover extensively.
