Social Determinants of Mental Health in India: Beyond Hospitals and Pills

Abstract Mental health in India has largely been conceptualized within a biomedical framework emphasizing diagnosis, pharmacological treatment, and specialist care. While these services are indispensable, they are insufficient to address the complex and growing burden of mental health problems in the country. A public health perspective underscores that mental health is deeply shaped by social, economic, and environmental conditions collectively referred to as the social determinants of mental health. This viewpoint examines how structural factors such as poverty, inequality, education, gender norms, employment conditions, urbanization, migration, and social exclusion influence mental health outcomes in India. Drawing on national data and global evidence, it argues that meaningful progress in mental health cannot be achieved through hospitals and pills alone. Instead, India requires a multisectoral, prevention-oriented, and equity-focused approach that integrates mental health into broader social and development policies.