Half of Amaha clients waited over a year before seeking mental health care, report finds

More than half of the people who eventually sought care from the mental healthcare provider Amaha had been living with their concerns for over a year before approaching a professional, and 56.2% reported thoughts of self-harm before they received support, according to the Amaha Mental Health Report 2026.

The report draws on responses from 13,825 people who answered questions before beginning care with the provider between October 2025 and September 2026. Only 11.3% sought help within a month of experiencing mental health concerns.

Because the findings come from people who had already decided to approach a professional, they describe the experience of those who reached care and do not represent the general population. Dr Amit Malik, psychiatrist and founder-CEO of Amaha, said the data should prompt a wider question. "India's progress in mental health must be judged by whether people can get timely, effective care, not simply by how openly we talk about it. These are the accounts of people who reached us; they should make us ask who is still unable to access care," he said. He added that friends, families and communities had an important role in helping people recognise their needs, and that finding treatment should not become "another test of a person's resilience".

Nearly 95% of respondents reported at least two concerns, with an average of five each. Anxiety was the most common (72.1%), followed by stress (67.5%), low mood (58.3%), relationship difficulties (55.6%) and sleep disturbances, reported by more than a third.

The report also points to a gap between self-reported distress and clinical diagnosis. Among those who initially reported stress, 33% were later diagnosed with depression. Among those reporting repetitive thoughts and behaviours, 32% were diagnosed with depression and 11% with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Before approaching a professional, many respondents turned to informal support or tried to manage on their own. More than half (54.5%) had spoken to friends or family, and 44.6% had used self-help resources such as books, apps, videos and online communities. Nearly a third had tried therapy previously, and 19.4% had used prescribed medication.

Avoidant coping strategies, including excessive screen time, oversleeping and overworking, were reported by 82.7% of respondents. Another 15.4% said they had turned to alcohol or other harmful substances instead of seeking professional support.

The delay was reflected in everyday functioning. Only 12.3% said they could manage all their daily tasks, while 27.3% said they could not manage most tasks, or any at all.

Young adults and working professionals made up the bulk of the group. People aged 25 to 34 accounted for 51.3% of respondents, followed by those aged 18 to 24 at 26.9%. Working professionals were 64.3%, students 15.3% and unemployed people 7.9%.

Asked who they would turn to in a mental health crisis, respondents most often named friends (33.9%), followed by spouses (20.5%) and siblings (18.1%), indicating the role that family and social networks play in recognising distress and helping people find care.

Mental health professionals note that thoughts of self-harm are a signal to seek help rather than a personal failing, and that treatment is available. In India, the government's Tele-MANAS helpline can be reached on 14416 or 1-800-891-4416, and calls are answered by trained mental health staff.