Cases of anxiety, and depression – usually believed to be issues with the urban population – have majorly increased across rural India, a recently released State of Healthcare in Rural India Report, 2024 revealed. According to the research, more than 45 per cent of those living in villages have suffered anxiety - a feeling of fear, dread, and uneasiness that can be a stress reaction. Doctors say it affects both the body and mind and can cause physical and mental symptoms.

The report, which covered 5,389 households in 21 states, says the prevalence of mental health disorders across the country has risen steadily in recent years, contributing to the escalating public health concern.

“The study reveals that 45 per cent of the respondents across gender most of the time have anxiety and worry that impacts their state of mind. The data reveals that anxiety and worry impact mental health much more among the older cohorts than those who are younger,” contents of the report revealed.

The report added that 40 per cent of those aged 18-25 years admitted to responding to certain things and situations with fear and dread – common symptoms of anxiety - with the proportion increasing to 53 per cent among those who are 60 years and above.

The report, jointly carried out by Transform Rural India, a non-profit organization, and its initiative, the Development Intelligence Unit - also talked about the concept of Neighbourhoods of Care as a fundamental shift in the approach to health delivery.

The model emphasizes the empowerment and capacity building of individuals, family members, and community members in terms of knowledge and skills to take and provide care efficiently and scientifically.

At least 73 per cent of rural households with elderly members need constant care for physical and mental health issues. And only 3 per cent engage in providing external caregivers as a paid service. The majority, 95.7 per cent prefer family caregivers, predominantly women, highlighting the need for caregiver training on home-based care, according to the survey.

The report also highlights a desolate and bleak picture of rural health systems such as non-functional healthcare centers, the absence of diagnostic facilities to treat major and minor ailments, and accessibility to affordable medicines in rural areas.

In addition, accessibility to affordable medicine at government medical stores comes as a major challenge for the rural population with more than 88 per cent of respondents finding difficulty in accessing subsidized medicines at Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendra.

Moreover, it also underlines the rising mental health issues across genders.

The reasons behind anxiety, like other types of mental health conditions, are not fully known. However, according to experts, a few combinations of factors that play an important role, include:

Several neurotransmitters and hormones play an important role in creating anxiety, and imbalances in these chemicals can contribute to an anxiety disorder.

Doctors say parts of your brain play an important role in managing fear and anxiety, and those diagnosed with the disorder show increased certain activities in response to anxiety cues.

Anxiety disorders are genetic and run in biological families, suggesting that genetics play a role.

Severe or long-lasting stress changes the balance of neurotransmitters that control your mood, contributing to an anxiety disorder.

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