Practo’s healthcare map shows most patients seeking mental health specialists are under 30 and increasingly prefer consulting online.
Depression is a fast-growing issue. Today on World Health Day, we are releasing the findings from our Healthcare Map that highlight how rapidly this condition is growing. We hope these findings help spread some awareness amongst consumers as well as amongst other stakeholders so together we can fight this and help people live healthier, happier lives.
The Practo healthcare map is a comprehensive look at the mental health trends across India. Annually, Practo facilitates 50M appointments on its platform. The report is based on those health care appointments that were booked on the platform along with online consultations across top cities in India with the focus on cities including Delhi & NCR, Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai etc. and across mental health specialties.
Uniquely, the report is entirely based on actual patient actions (booking appointments; online consultations) rather than a survey.
Report Findings
- 78% of all doctor appointments related to mental illness booked were by people under 30
- 79% of all online doctor consultations related to mental illness were done by people under 30
- People in the age group of 18-24 visited mental health specialists the most followed by growth in the age group of 25-34
- 62% growth in appointments booked for symptoms like depression and anxiety nationally.
- 4x growth in patients consulting doctors online for such health concerns – meaning that increasingly patients are also exploring consulting doctors online as it gives them greater privacy and helps avoid the stigma these conditions can sometimes carry.
- Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore saw the most appointments with mental health specialists.
- Chennai and Kolkata saw the highest growth (57% and 24% respectively) in these appointments in 2016 as compared to 2015
“Depression is becoming a prevalent problem among Indians today and this is because of various factors such as stress, fast paced lives and changing value systems. Many people living in urban cities have been seeking medical help for various mental issues and major depressive disorder (MDD) which often have symptoms such as loss of interest and enjoyment in practically every aspect of life. Added to this are physical symptoms such as heavy headache, backache, insomnia, difficulty in concentration, restlessness, stomach disorders, heaviness in the chest, weakness and blurred vision. It is advised to consult a specialist as depression is treatable by taking proper medication and psychotherapy. The sooner patients seek professional help, the faster they can leave depression behind.” Dr Aarti Jagannathan, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatric Social Work/ Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS)
We hope you find the report useful.
