India: Tackling toxic masculinity must be a national priority

Article here. Excerpt:

'Being a young person today is anything but simple. For many young Indians, adolescence is no longer a carefree phase but a high-pressure journey marked by academic stress, social media scrutiny, and emotional isolation. Beneath the surface of exam scores, digital connectivity, and outward success lies a growing undercurrent of anxiety, depression, and emotional struggle, too often overlooked or misunderstood. India is facing a silent yet staggering mental health crisis — one that is disproportionately impacting its youth.
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Changing the culture around mental health also requires reshaping the way we talk about masculinity. Tackling toxic masculinity must be a national priority — not just by revising textbooks, but by promoting healthier models of masculinity that embrace vulnerability, empathy, and emotional growth. Community initiatives, media campaigns, and mentorship programmes can help shift mindsets, especially when male role models speak openly about mental health. But these cultural shifts will mean little without real investment. India must significantly boost its mental health budget to strengthen infrastructure, train more professionals, and expand access to care — particularly in rural and underserved areas. A lack of funding is no longer just an administrative gap; it’s a life-threatening obstacle for millions of young people in need.'