I believe Indian professionals are undervaluing mental well-being. Speaking from my own experience, the work culture here is incredibly demanding and often toxic. There's this constant pressure to perform, meet deadlines, and outdo your peers. It's like a never-ending race and in the midst of all this, mental health takes a backseat.
I remember when I first started working, I was so excited and motivated. But soon, the long hours, unrealistic expectations, and lack of work-life balance started taking a toll on me. I felt exhausted all the time, both physically and mentally. But when I tried to talk about it, I was often met with responses like "It's part of the job" or "Everyone goes through this". It was as if feeling stressed or overwhelmed was a sign of weakness.
The stigma around mental health is still very strong here. People are hesitant to seek help because they fear being judged or seen as incapable. Even in workplaces that claim to care about employee well-being, mental health is rarely given the attention it deserves. There might be a few token initiatives like a yoga session or a mindfulness workshop, but they don't address the root of the problem.
I think it's high time we start prioritizing mental well-being. It's not just about being productive at work, it's about living a balanced and fulfilling life. We need to create a culture where it's okay to talk about mental health, where seeking help is seen as a sign of strength, not weakness. Only then can we truly thrive, both personally and professionally.
So yes, in my opinion, we are definitely undervaluing mental well-being and it's something that needs to change urgently.
