Why Mental Health in India Matters Now More Than Ever? India is the largest democracy, yet for decades, mental health has been silenced. With a population of over 1.3 billion, the mental health and well-being of citizens are essential building blocks of national growth and productivity. According to the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS)2015-2016, about 10.6% of Indian adults, roughly 150 million people, require active mental health intervention, and 70-92% of them receive no treatment. The World Health Organisation (WHO,2016) estimates that India, facing mental health problems, has 2443 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per 10,000 population, and the age-adjusted suicide rate per 10,0000 population is 21.1. Apart from these statistics, they underscore the urgent need for individuals to realise their potential, cope with life’s stresses, work productively, and build a healthy community (WHO, 2016). After the pandemic, mental health became a focus and was acknowledged as an essential component of…