Mental health issues have been swept under the rug as the subject was viewed in the negative light and treated with much disdain and stigma for the longest time known to the human mind. Thankfully, the times are changing and we are all experiencing a paradigm shift in social perceptions and attitude in recent years; mental health and its importance are finally getting the attention and respect which was long due. The last decade has particularly been significant in bringing about this remarkable change in world society, and particularly in India.
Anyone talking unabashedly about depression, anxiety, and stress in the past were frowned upon and treated as misfits and social outcasts, but now no more. Many celebrities have been the torchbearers in this regard and have taken active initiatives to open free and frank discussions on the importance of mental wellness, emotional well-being, self-care, and stress management, and the significance in the growth of counseling services in this context.
Increasing awareness, rising mental health concerns in India, limited accessibility to traditional mental health services, stigma reduction, convenience and flexibility, COVID-19 pandemic impact, and supportive government initiatives have given rise to a significant growth in mental health support platforms and online therapies in India.
It is good news that the mental health landscape is constantly evolving in the country, and as we write this post there may be new platforms or changes to the existing ones emerging on the horizon.
Let us give you a lowdown on some of the most popular mental health platforms to locate a mental health counselor in India:-
1) Manastha
Manastha features as one of the leading mental health platforms in India that provides ready access to qualified and certified mental health professionals like psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists. It ensures secure communication channels and prioritizes their clients’ confidentiality and privacy, something you need not be troubled about. It is a safe and reliable platform and one of the best-rated ones in the country. It offers an entire gamut of services like counseling for relationship issues, eating disorders; parenting; treatment for neurosis, obsessive thoughts and behavior; anger, emotion, and stress management, among others.
Before connecting, you can glimpse through the qualifications of the therapist that you are assigned to (as per your mental health needs), service packages and customized treatment plans that ensure that the counseling session is focused and effective, and multiple communication options like chat, audio, and video sessions. You can choose whichever mode suits you best as per your convenience and accessibility. Manastha attempts to have a wider reach and make mental health support accessible to a wider population, instead of just a privileged few. Very few understand the financial barriers that prevent individuals from seeking professional help as Manastha does. It is cost-effective and soothing for most pockets.
2) YourDOST
This is another mental health platform with some standalone features. Whenever you are down in the doldrums and simply not in your elements, or before you think of exhausting the entire cigarette packet or hitting the bottle and downing pegs, consider checking out this link
You can seek support anonymously at YourDOST, which will provide you a safe space to share your concerns without having to reveal your identity. You can choose experts depending on your mental/emotional needs, like psychologists, counselors, therapists, or life coaches. They have a secure chat interface. In addition to chat-based counseling, they also offer audio and video sessions if you prefer real-time interactions with your counselor. This mode of counseling experience is believed to be more immersive and personalized. YourDOST also offers various resources and interactive tools that cover a wide range of mental health topics to help you tide over your problems.
It offers specialized programs in a targeted and structured way, such as stress management, navigating through relationship issues, career guidance, student support, and more. Overall, it is a trusted platform that maintains high standards of professionalism, ethics, and data security.
3) Youth For Mental Health
The young are the most vulnerable in these darkest times when the negative extremes are at their peak. To prevent them from getting further consumed in their own destructive emotions leading to self-sabotage, Youth For Mental Health, a relatively new platform founded in 2019, offers community support to young individuals through creative and impactful endeavors. It is an organization that is founded and managed by and for the youth.
A non-judgmental and growth-oriented space fosters mental and emotional wellbeing in youngsters that eventually leads to success. YMH encourages these young souls to freely express themselves and demonstrate their choices without any fear or hesitation. Besides providing psychological support and guidance, YMH also invests significantly in learning and training programs, and awareness drives. There is provision for both individual counseling and participation in support groups at YMH. It advocates an atmosphere of inclusivity, de-stigmatization, collaboration, and creates a rich narrative around mental hygiene through various programs and initiatives.
4) BetterLyf
Most mental health issues emerge from not being listened to and being misunderstood for the larger part. If there’s one thing that is tearing people apart from each other today is the absence of active listening. And it is here that these support platforms score brownie points. The biggest draw of these mental health online portals is their ability to offer you a safe space to engage in uninterrupted conversation. Human beings are instinctively drawn to working on solutions (rather than engaging in negative self-talks and problems) when they are accepted without any labels or judgment. Competent counselors can help you identify your triggers and discover your true self with effective therapy and behavior tools that make you feel better and stronger. This is the core principle on which BetterLyf functions.
It empowers you and helps you achieve the best version of yourself by working on limiting belief-systems, learning to handle daily stress and pressures, coping with neurotic tendencies like anger, anxiety, depression, and phobia, and addressing lifestyle issues. The new ‘you’ that emerges is a happier ‘you’ with improved relationships and confidence that reflects on your personal and professional life. The trained and experienced counselors at BetterLyf offer self-help programs and insightful counseling sessions online in multiple languages through multi-channels all 365 days in a year, and all that at very affordable prices.
5) MindPeers
Now, this is for those who like to strengthen their minds instead of dwelling on its weaknesses. You have the best-in-class therapists available here to cater to your problems 24/7. The MindPeers interface looks and reads unique in that it offers neuroscience games, mind insights, tools to measure your mental strength, and community support, besides individual and corporate counseling. It is an exceptional platform that is worth giving a try.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we can safely say that these platforms have emerged as beacons of hope for the people at large, connecting them to skilled and trained therapists in real-time who play a pivotal role in improving their mental and emotional well-being at affordable rates. Expensive and time-taking treatment sessions are now things of the past; seamless online interfaces, innovative features, and round-the-clock accessibility have helped these platforms break down barriers and make them more accessible to the common man than ever before.
Individuals can now find solace in the privacy of their homes without the travel hassle. These platforms empower the users to take charge of their mental health and connect with experienced counselors at their own pace and convenience. Moreover, you have the freedom to choose between chat-based counseling, video consultations, and personalized therapy programs in seeking support.
It is heartening to witness the increasing recognition and importance placed on mental health in India. Through these platforms, the stigma surrounding mental health is being challenged, and the landscape is shifting towards a more compassionate and supportive society.
