Physical Wellbeing bigger preoccupation than Mental Wellbeing for Urban Indians & global citizens

October 10th, is World Mental Health Day. According to an Ipsos 30-country survey, among 21,513 adults, 71% urban Indians and 68% global citizens said they think about their physical wellbeing often. And how about mental wellbeing? Interestingly, personal concern for mental wellbeing was comparatively lower, both among urban Indians (61%) and global citizens (53%). Mental Wellbeing versus Physical Wellbeing  Further, we asked the respondents to choose between mental and physical wellbeing, asking them to rate by importance. And an overwhelming majority, at least 79% global citizens lay emphasis on the importance of both mental and physical wellbeing equally. 6 in 10 urban Indians too chose both mental and physical wellbeing equally in importance.

“Both physical and mental wellbeing are inter-related. If there are prolonged physical symptoms they impact even the mental state, likewise, stress or mental disturbance often leads to physical symptoms as well. It is only in the recent years that mental wellbeing is being taken more seriously, earlier it used to get a short shrift,” said Parijat Chakraborty, Country Service Line Leader, Public Affairs, Ipsos India. 

How does the Healthcare System perceive both Mental & Physical Wellbeing?The  survey showed that the views were quite divided, both among global citizens & urban Indians: Global citizens felt their country healthcare systems feel physical wellbeing is more important (42%), both mental and physical wellbeing are equally important (35%) and mental health is more important was felt by 9%.  Urban Indians felt our healthcare system would rate physical wellbeing important (37%); rate both mental and physical wellbeing important (37%) and 18% would rate mental wellbeing important.Hierarchy of global health concerns   The survey also mapped the top global health concerns and mental health was placed third in the overall hierarchy. So, the pecking order was - coronavirus (70%), cancer (34%), mental health (31%), stress (22%) and obesity (19%).

Monica Gangwani, Country Service Line Leader, Healthcare, Ipsos India said, "I’m not surprised mental health is at No. 3 position now. Mental Health is now becoming a prominent concern among people and not surprising that it is the third most salient global health concern after Covid19 and Cancer. Prolonged social isolation, loneliness, anxiety and all the gloom due to loss of human lives is taking a toll on mental health."