India’s Real Mental Health Crisis: Dr Samir Parikh Words Will Shake You to Realise. Only On The Simple Hai!

Today, mental health often gets lost behind deadlines, screen time, and pressure to “keep up.” But Dr Samir Parikh, one of India’s top psychiatrists and Director at Fortis Healthcare, brings the focus back in an unmissable podcast episode of Simple Hai! with Vivek Law. This isn’t your usual lecture. It’s a sharp, honest, and relatable talk about how India is silently suffering and what every school, office, parent, and young person needs to hear right now.

The Silent Epidemic We Don’t Talk About Enough

Dr Parikh calls mental health in India a hidden epidemic. Even though more people talk about it after COVID-19, most still avoid getting help. Globally, 3 out of 4 people don’t seek treatment. In India, the number is worse due to stigma and poor awareness.

“Mental health is not just the elephant in the room, it’s a herd of invisible elephants,” he says.

And it’s time we started seeing them.

COVID Opened the Door, But the Problem Is Old

The pandemic made people anxious, depressed, and fearful. But Dr Parikh says these issues didn’t start with COVID, they were just hidden earlier. The crisis only made them visible. But he believes this painful period also taught people the value of relationships, health, and a simpler life. These are lessons we shouldn’t forget.

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Schools Must Teach More Than Marks

Why aren’t schools teaching emotional strength and media awareness? Young minds today face constant comparison, online and offline. Dr Parikh believes Indian education needs a big change. Subjects like physics and maths matter. But without emotional intelligence, children grow up unsure, insecure, and unprepared for real life.

Corporate India, Are You Listening?

Mental health is not just a weekend campaign or a one-time webinar. Dr Parikh believes companies need to:

• Include mental health in regular check-ups
• Give easy access to psychologists and psychiatrists
• Add mental wellness to insurance policies

With workplace stress being a major trigger, investing in employees’ minds is smart business, not just kindness.

The Mental Toll of Work and Ambition

Many adults face anxiety because of work, long hours, poor support, or feeling stuck. Dr Parikh says your job affects more than your wallet, it impacts your peace, identity, and emotional stability.

With more young people chasing startup dreams, the pressure to succeed fast is harming their mental strength. Passion is good, but without support, it can lead to burnout.

The Rise of Risky Behaviour Post-Pandemic

Dr Parikh also points out a sharp rise in gambling, crypto trading, and risky investments among youth. Many see these as shortcuts to success. But the reality is that most young investors lose money.

He calls this a “dangerous mix” of easy access and poor awareness, and urges better financial literacy as a form of mental protection.

Why Everyone Seems So Impatient

From road rage to social media addiction, Dr Samir Parikh links rising impatience to poor mental health. Constant scrolling and instant replies leave no room for calm or focus. He believes society is forgetting empathy, mindfulness, and the power of waiting, and that this is hurting us more than we realise.

Samir Parikh’s Own Rules: No Phone After 7 PM

Dr Samir Parikh follows his teachings. He shuts his phone by 7 PM, uses social media only for awareness, and spends time reading, eating mindfully, and connecting with nature. This discipline helps him stay centred, and he urges others to try digital detoxes too.

Be Kind, Stay Curious

“You can compete without being cruel. You can be strong without being loud.”

He believes mental health isn’t just about therapy, it’s about being human.

He offers one simple piece of advice to students or professionals in the mental health field: keep reading, stay curious, and step out of your comfort zone.

Change Starts in Classrooms and Offices

If India wants to win the battle against its mental health crisis, Dr Samir Parikh says we must start where it matters most, schools and workplaces. That’s where habits are built, stress begins, and help must be available.

He closes with a truth every Indian should remember:

“Mental health is not a luxury. It’s necessary for individuals, companies, and the country.”

A Must-Listen Podcast That Hits Home for Every Indian

• Real talk from India’s leading psychiatrist
• Actionable advice for parents, teachers, employers, and youth
• Timely insights on life post-COVID
• One of the most honest discussions on mental health in Indian media

If you care about your peace of mind or that of your child, team, or community, this is the episode you shouldn’t miss. Tune into Simple Hai! and make mental health part of your daily life, not a last-minute panic.

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