Community Mental Health Project

In the urban slum communities where we work, emotional distress often remains invisible. We meet individuals who carry prolonged stress from financial insecurity, unstable employment, overcrowded living conditions, domestic conflict, and substance use within families. Feelings of anxiety, helplessness, anger, or hopelessness are frequently dismissed as personal weakness rather than recognised as mental health concerns.

Across India, nearly one in seven individuals experiences challenges such as depression, anxiety, or substance use disorders. Yet most do not receive care due to stigma, limited access to services, and financial constraints. In vulnerable communities, this treatment gap is even wider.

“In vulnerable communities, this treatment gap is even wider.”

We observed that people were suffering in silence — hesitant to speak, unsure where to seek support, and often reaching crisis points before receiving help. The absence of accessible and culturally sensitive mental health care deepened distress at both individual and family levels. Recognising this need, we initiated the Community Mental Health Project in July 2022 to bring structured, community-based mental health support directly to where people live.