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In a groundbreaking initiative aimed at safeguarding the mental health of Australian youth, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that children under the age of 16 will be prohibited from accessing social media platforms, as per reports.

During a press briefing in Canberra, Albanese declared, "Social media is doing harm to our kids, and I'm calling time on it." This sweeping legislation will hold social media companies accountable for enforcing these new age restrictions, or face hefty fines.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the responsibility for compliance will not rest on parents or children, but rather on the tech firms themselves.

This measure is part of a broader strategy by Albanese's center-left Labor government to tackle the growing influence of technology giants, which have been linked to a rise in misinformation and mental health issues among young people. 

While the government has engaged with social media companies to discuss the impending regulations, specifics on which platforms will be affected remain unclear. 

Internationally, Australia’s move aligns with a growing trend among European nations that are also exploring age-based restrictions to protect the mental health and safety of young users. 

In France, for instance, users under 15 now require parental consent, while some proposals seek to bar children under 13 from smartphones altogether. The UK is contemplating regulations that would restrict smartphone sales to those over 16, and the Netherlands has banned smartphone use in primary schools to combat distractions.

Read more: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/digital/australia-plans-to-ban-social-media-for-kids-among-health-concerns-41912.htm">Australia plans to ban social media for kids among health concerns</a>

Australia announces ban on social media for kids under 16

Mental health is a topic that remains under-discussed in India, despite its increasing relevance in today's fast-paced, highly connected world.

A 2019 estimate from WHO predicts that India will incur economic losses of $1.03 trillion due to mental health conditions between 2012 and 2030. A Deloitte India's report titled 'Mental Health and Well-being in the Workplace' found that 80% of the Indian workforce reported mental health issues during the pandemic, and 47% admitted that work-related stress had impacted their performance. In such scenarios, an employee wellbeing program becomes a need of the hour.

However, a few Indian entrepreneurs have broken the silence around mental health, openly sharing their personal battles with anxiety, depression, work stress, and burnout.

These founders are not just talking the walk; they are also walking the walk by backing in mental health solutions that are creating safe spaces for mental wellness.

Here is a list of Indian founders who have taken a stand for mental health awareness and actively supported ventures to make a difference.

1. Deepinder Goyal

Deepinder Goyal, the co-founder and CEO of Zomato, has been an influential figure in India's startup ecosystem, and in recent years, he has become more vocal about mental health and wellness. Goyal’s personal journey with mental health, marked by periodic bouts of depression, has shaped his perspective on the importance of maintaining mental well-being in high-pressure environments like startups.

To fuel his passion and purpose towards mental wellness, Goyal has embarked on a new personal venture called "Continue," aimed at health tracking and mental wellness.

Branded as "The Ultimate Health Tracker," Continue is currently operating in stealth mode, with limited information available. The platform is set to address various aspects of well-being, including mental wellness, nutrition, sleep tracking, and preventive health strategies. Goyal, who has expressed a personal passion for longevity and extending human lifespan, has aligned these interests with Continue's mission.

This venture adds to Goyal’s growing involvement in the health and wellness space.

In the past as well, Goyal has long demonstrated a strong interest in the health and fitness sector. He is an investor in Ultrahuman, a startup known for developing wearables like the Ultrahuman Ring, which tracks various health metrics. Additionally, he had acquired the fitness brand Fitso, which was later sold to Curefit.

2. Nithin Kamath

Nithin Kamath, the CEO of Zerodha, became a strong advocate for health and mental well-being after his wife, Seema Patil, was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2021. Following her recovery, Kamath has shared their journey publicly, emphasizing the importance of regular health check-ups and mental health support.

Seema’s battle with cancer deeply impacted Kamath's views on health, motivating him to invest in initiatives that promote well-being.

Through Zerodha’s initiative Rainmatter Foundation, Kamath has extended his support to multiple health and mental wellness ventures, although specific investments in mental health apps have not been explicitly confirmed.

3. Neerja Birla

Neerja Birla, Founder and Chairperson of the Aditya Birla Education Trust (ABET), is a visionary leader with a strong commitment to service. Her dynamic approach and passion for societal impact have made her a globally recognized sociopreneur and advocate for mental health.

A personal connection to mental health drives Neerja's advocacy for systemic change and innovation in this field. As the force behind Mpower, she has led the initiative to revolutionize India's perspective on mental health, promoting awareness, reducing stigma, and offering comprehensive, high-quality care. Mpower has positively impacted more than 120 million lives across the country.

4. Ritesh Agarwal

Ritesh Agarwal, the founder of OYO Rooms, is another Indian entrepreneur who has spoken about the personal toll of running a global business. At the height of OYO’s expansion, Agarwal discussed his experiences with stress and mental exhaustion.

While he has not backed mental health ventures specifically, OYO has introduced several wellness programs to address the mental health needs of its employees, including counselling services and meditation workshops. Agarwal's openness has helped normalize discussions on mental health in India's high-growth startups.

5. Kunal Shah

Kunal Shah, the founder of CRED, has been vocal about mental health and wellness, particularly in the entrepreneurial space. He frequently discusses the pressures faced by founders and the importance of mental well-being in managing a startup. In various interviews and social media interactions, Shah has emphasized the need for entrepreneurs to prioritize their mental health, given the immense stress and unpredictability that comes with running a business.

Through his investment endeavours, Shah has shown a strong interest in health-tech startups, particularly those focused on wellness and mental health. Two notable companies he has backed are Mosaic Wellness and Mave Health, both of which align with his advocacy for improving access to healthcare and wellness solutions.

These founders are not just building companies—they are shaping conversations around mental health, one step at a time. By openly discussing their own challenges, they are helping to dismantle the stigma around mental health, while also supporting and investing in ventures that aim to improve the well-being of others. As more Indian entrepreneurs step forward, they pave the way for a culture where mental health discussions are not just acceptable but encouraged.

Mental health is no longer a silent crisis in the workplace—it’s an urgent issue affecting productivity, employee well-being, and overall business success. For entrepreneurs, addressing mental health is not just a compassionate move, but a strategic necessity.

5 founders championing mental health: Conversations and strategic investments

First, the good news. Recent surveys have shown that mental health awareness in India, a culturally rich and complex nation, is on the rise. This bodes well for the country, especially when you consider the scale of the problem in India— according to the WHO, one in every five Indians suffers from some form of mental illness currently—and the fact that Covid-19 pandemic has escalated the mental health crisis globally. As recently as October 2021, a study in Lancet reported a further 35 per cent increase in mental health problems in India. WHO also estimates that India will suffer economic losses amounting to a staggering 1.03 trillion dollars from mental health conditions between 2012 and 2030. 

Fighting mental illness

While awareness may be on the rise and attitudes may be changing, thanks to celebrities like actor Deepika Padukone and tennis star Naomi Osaka talking openly about mental health, combating mental illness on a national level requires tackling several barriers at multiple levels, the first one being the stigma attached to it. Still a taboo subject that makes people sweep the issue under the carpet and suffer in silence instead of speaking out and seeking help, mental health poses several challenges. Those suffering from it typically live in denial. Many don’t even recognize the obvious symptoms. And sadly, in a lot of cases, family and friends are unsupportive.

Another major barrier is the gap in the existing mental healthcare delivery system. Currently, India has 0.75 psychiatrists per 100,000 people, while the desirable number is anything above 3 psychiatrists per 100,000. It is no surprise then that a National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) 2015-16 report revealed that the treatment gap—the presence of mental illnesses and the proportion of people who had access to treatment—was over 70%. The same survey found that nearly 80% of those suffering from mental disorders did not receive treatment for over a year. Mental disorders also place a considerable economic burden on the patient and their family. This is because treatment is not only expensive but also long-term and requires regular follow-up visits for therapy sessions as well as medications.

Changing the mental healthcare ecosystem 

In a positive turn of events, India has been gradually waking up to the reality and consequences of mental health. Proof of this is the announcement of the Tele Mental Health Programme, in the 2022 Union Budget, under which 23 tele-mental health centers will be launched with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) as the nodal center. While this is a shot in the arm for the mental health care infrastructure in the country, there is still a long way to go for systemic change to set in. Policymakers, healthcare providers and educators alike must create robust systems including medical colleges to produce more mental health practitioners, increase penetration of psychiatrists and psychologists in clinics, and ensure availability of mental health practitioners for tele consults/online consults in order to address the country’s severely underserved mental health needs.

Corporate makeover

India accounts for nearly 15% of the global mental, neurological and substance abuse disorder burden (Source: WHO). This is a matter of grave concern—which caused the former President of India Ram Nath Kovind to state in 2017 that India was “facing a possible mental health epidemic”. Not only do mental disorders place a strain on the financial situation of the people affected, but they also diminish the person’s productivity and ability to pursue a long-term career, which in turn impacts the economy of the nation as a whole. In the coming years, mental health will play a crucial role in the economy of the country. This means that the mental health well-being of the entire population of the country needs to be addressed collectively.

Corporate India can play an important role in alleviating the country’s burgeoning mental health crisis—from CSR initiatives centered on mental health to offering monetary support to improve medical infrastructure. But first and foremost, in order to encourage people to take action and seek help actively, there is an urgent need for corporates to focus on normalizing the conversation around mental health. In recent times, there have been a few campaigns that created awareness about commonplace symptoms and the help available—such as Philips’ #KhayaalRakhna on normalizing seeking therapy, Prega News’ Your Second Home campaign that threw light on post-partum depression, Miranda’s #ReleaseThePressure campaign about dealing with exam pressure. Future Generali is one of the few brands (and probably the only BFSI brand) that has been actively and consistently sparking conversations to break the taboo and bring mental health to our living rooms through its campaigns.

The brand’s campaigns such as #HealthInsideOut, which had multiple videos tackling the touchy subject in a humorous manner, #Mind Matters, another campaign that showcased India’s top sport stars unabashedly talking about their personal struggles with mental health, and #UnmaskYourFeeling, which innovatively used face masks to get people to talk about mental health have consistently brought home the fact that mental health needs to be on par with physical health, and therefore, it too needs to be discussed openly.

In 2021, the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India (IRDAI) urged insurers to keep mental illness at par with physical illness in regular health insurance coverage. This means that insurance companies too can step in by offering differentiated and innovative products and services to cover costs of tackling mental illness. Future Generali has taken a huge step in this direction by introducing a health insurance cover that includes mental health—FGII’s Health Total Policy offers covers not just hospitalization but also a unique feature in the form of OPD for mental health. 

Looking inwards, corporates are also working on several initiatives to address the well-being of their own employees, from team and community-building activities, yoga and meditation sessions, to roping in mental health practitioners for free and confidential tele-counselling services to offering mental health days and holidays to encourage employees to take a breather from the stress of work. Such initiatives have shown to not only elevate the well-being of employees but increase productivity as well.

As an issue that affects over 90 million Indians across demographics and rural-urban divide, mental health has been touted as the next potential pandemic. The way to beat the mental health crisis lies in getting all stakeholders, including government bodies and institutions, NGOs, corporates, and the common man, to come together to tackle this epidemic with a sense of urgency and openness.

The writer is the chief marketing officer of Future Generali India Insurance. Views expressed are personal.

MENTAL HEALTH