Mental healthcare moved from margins to daily life as clinics filled up and conversations opened across Bengaluru | Bengaluru News

Bengaluru’s pace doesn’t slow down for anyone. The city keeps moving— through traffic snarls, project deadlines, rising costs, and the constant hum of ambition. But people have started admitting what they had been feeling for years: exhaustion that sleep couldn’t fix, anxiety that wouldn’t lift, the sense of barely keeping up. Therapy rooms filled. Clinic appointments stretched into waitlists. And mental health, once tucked away in private struggles, became something people actually talked about — with colleagues, flatmates, parents. Not loudly, not dramatically. Just honestly.Year of rising demandAcross the city, psychiatric centres and therapy practices recorded a marked increase in people seeking help. Facilities saw anywhere from 10% to 250% more walk-ins and in-patients than the previous year. Some people arrived for their first consultation; others returned after long gaps. Adults in their thirties and forties formed the most visible group.Clinicians said the shift came from recognising that untreated stress or low mood could affect family life and work. At St John’s Hospital, four consultants together saw 100–150 people a day. Many worked in the IT sector and reported pressure linked to deadlines, long hours, and workplace uncertainty.While younger adults spoke openly about mental health on social media, psychiatrists noted that Gen-Z often postponed formal treatment unless symptoms became difficult to manage.Institutions step inSupport did not remain an individual pursuit. Through the year, institutions created a more accessible landscape. Companies introduced well-being initiatives, colleges tied up with service providers and some apartment associations arranged counselling for residents.Cadabams Hospitals reported a 250–300% rise in OPD visits and a 40–42% rise in admissions. The centre also saw more couples seeking therapy, reflecting an acceptance that relationship strain need not be borne alone. These moves did not erase stigma but indicated how support could be organised at a community level.Shift in awareness, attitudeExperts traced the change to sustained awareness efforts. Mental health professionals became more visible in the media, helping people view treatment as a routine option. Social media offered language and testimonies that many found reassuring.Yet misconceptions persisted. According to psychiatrist Dr Shashidhar Bilagi, many remained wary of psychiatric medication, assuming it was lifelong or caused weight gain. While these concerns held true in some cases, they were not typical. Delays in treatment continued for severe conditions such as OCD, depression, psychosis, and schizophrenia, with people often taking between four and 14 months to seek help. Milder concerns reached clinics earlier, but not early enough for many.Challenge of costCost remained one of the biggest barriers. Therapy sessions priced at Rs 1,500–2,000 were unaffordable for many households. Students from modest backgrounds often depended on college programmes. Some institutions offered subsidised therapy through tie-ups with service providers, creating an entry point for first-time seekers.Clinicians warned that as demand rises, the gap between those who can pay and those who cannot will widen without proactive measures.Emerging habits & small gainsDespite challenges, experts observed encouraging shifts.More people incorporated yoga, meditation, and physical activity into their routines as a first step towards managing symptoms. Conversations about diet and mood also became common. Crucially, many sought help earlier than before, reducing the risk of conditions worsening.These changes may not fix structural gaps, but clinicians believe they show a growing willingness to engage with mental well-being.Children, adolescents in focusA worrying trend through 2025 was the rise in mental health concerns among children and adolescents. Doctors reported an increase in ADHD, depression, excessive screen use, and autism. Early onset of OCD, depression and suicidal tendencies became more visible in those aged 14–18.Psychiatrists stressed the need for early intervention. Treatment started between eight and 10 years of age is often more effective, but parents frequently delayed seeking help because of the stigma around diagnosis and medication. Clinicians are hopeful that the coming year brings quicker action.What 2025 leaves behindThe year did not resolve the city’s mental health challenges, but it marked a shift in how residents understood well-being. Rising demand, growing institutional support, and early signs of behavioural change suggested a city learning to treat mental health as a shared responsibility. Bengaluru may still have a long way to go, but 2025 showed that its people are more prepared than before to speak, seek and act.