Health

Across India, temperatures are soaring, and the impact is evident, from 300 suspected heat-related illness cases reported in Andhra Pradesh to 200 in Maharashtra, say news reports. Heat is unequally felt, with informal workers bearing the brunt of income loss and illness during the blazing hours. Another overlooked impact is heatwaves’ toll on menstrual and reproductive health, where access to washrooms and clean water exacerbates summers for women in low-income settlements, experts say.  Extreme heat exposure overlaps closely with marginalisation, says Vidhya Venugopal, Professor of Climate Change, Occupational and Environmental Health at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research…

At 8 am every day, M Subashini hops onto her two-wheeler and braces herself for the incessant Zomato order notifications on her phone, and the blistering May heat. Armed with a water bottle and gloves, the gig worker says "Veyil thaangamudila (can't bear the sun). But we took this job to be independent, and earn — so we can't stop, for rain or heat.” Shuttling across Ambattur's roads, the 38-year-old races between restaurants and residences, dropping off food packages under the scorching sun. An order within five kilometres usually earns her ₹20–50. “Men can do longer distances, but I can’t.…

The street dogs issue continues to spark discussion across Indian cities, without a sustainable and humane solution in sight. While the problem of dog bites may be  real, it is also important to be pragmatic, preemptive and protect frontline workers in the animal welfare sector by dealing with its greatest potential downside, head on.   A simple, cost-effective intervention is to mandate or strongly encourage annual Rabies Virus Neutralising Antibody (RVNA) titre testing for all animal welfare workers. This not only protects them from rabies but it also enhances public health resilience against the fatal disease, at minimal expense. Bengaluru is…

"Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) remains poor." "Flights cancelled due to smog in Delhi."  The headlines mostly focus on Delhi’s toxic air, and the spotlight rarely shifts. However, another story often goes untold: the air in South Indian cities. The AQI readings in Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and others mostly fall in the “satisfactory” range. Yet, does that really mean the air is safe to breathe? On a busy road in HSR Layout, Kanmani runs a tiffin centre from a pushcart. One evening, she began wrapping up earlier than usual. Just beside her shop, the air was thick with smoke. Garbage…

As people gain awareness of mental health, many have started using apps that offer advice and support. This growth is driven by the increased use of smartphones and easy access to the internet. However, many people still believe that mental health care is expensive, which deters them from seeking professional help, despite the availability of trained experts at government hospitals and through helplines and district mental health programmes. Because of this, users may turn to digital platforms for mental health support. But, how reliable are these apps? A systematic review of 350 mental health applications by the Indian Council of…

In 2014, Srividhya didn’t imagine she would help dozens navigate through mental illness, consistently pushing them to reflect and dream of a better life. The 55-year-old’s routine involves shuttling between ten homes for the mentally ill run by The Banyan, a Chennai-based NGO, across Kovalam. A long list of daily tasks ensues — attending to the mental health needs of service users, supervising hygiene, functioning, and vital signs, and noting medications, as well as participating in group discussions, among others. “When clients say they are glad I’m coming, it feels like a certification beyond money, pride and fame. It feels…

76-year-old Bela Nag, a retired school teacher in Kolkata, finds urban life increasingly isolating. “Young people have no patience with the elderly,” she says, “Availing basic services has become a challenge due to technological advancements and wide scale adoption.” Bela’s sentiments only reflect what is reality for many seniors across urban India who are constantly grappling with the pressure of adapting to exploding cities, migration and rapid digital change. Their predicament brings to the fore larger questions around the effect of city living on the mental health of seniors, especially those who live alone. What affordable, stigma-free, accessible solutions can…

Dr Sanjeevani Rajwade (60) from Mumbai's Vile Parle fractured her foot this rainy season after stepping into a hidden pothole. She walks to her clinic daily, a 10-minute commute from home. “I’ve tried all kinds of footwear to avoid falling,” she says, “but with broken footpaths and uneven roads, nothing really works. Every day, just walking safely to my clinic is a struggle.” Earlier this month, Siddesh Narvekar (31) had his leg trapped in a 10-centimetre-wide drainage hole near Jogeshwari Metro station. The fire brigade took nearly four hours to free him using chipping hammers and cutters, working cautiously as…

Amidst the green hues of the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens in Bengaluru, conversations on mental health are getting a new shade. On one Saturday morning each month, beneath the majestic trees, people from different backgrounds gather to interact with mental health professionals. The discussions span a wide variety of themes such as emotional well-being, suicide prevention, digital overuse and much more, creating an open forum where dialogue replaces one-way information. This initiative, called Community Connect, envisioned by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), converts a public park into a space for shared learning and support. The Mental Health…

When a 30-year-old man from Karnataka felt overwhelmed by suicidal thoughts and a deep sense of hopelessness, he reached out to a government-run tele-counselling helpline. On the other end of the line was a trained counsellor from Tele MANAS, India’s national tele-mental health programme. The counsellor listened patiently, offered emotional support, and guided him to a nearby mental health hospital under the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) for further care. In another case, a 17-year-old student, anxious about his upcoming exams, called the same helpline. He received practical advice, study tips, and daily motivation. Two years later, he called back…