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Rapid societal change—from AI to climate crises—is reshaping mental health worldwide, demanding policies that balance progress with psychological resilience.

As the world prepares for World Mental Health Day 2025, there is growing recognition that economic progress often comes at a hidden human cost. In the 19^th century, sociologist Émile Durkheim theorised that mental health challenges extended beyond individual psychological factors. Now corroborated by empirical research, Durkheim observed that suicide was influenced by disruptions in the fabric of society, particularly during periods of rapid societal transformation. This includes modernisation, industrialisation, urbanisation, and globalisation – each significantly changing the world.

Durkheim observed that suicide was influenced by disruptions in the fabric of society, particularly during periods of rapid societal transformation.

These consecutive waves of transformation—from the first Industrial Revolution to the fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), along with shifting gender roles, environmental stressors, and geopolitical conflicts—have collectively affected the psychological landscape of societies.

The Technological Transition

The pre-industrial society, where economic activities were tied to the household, provided a built-in buffer for psychological distress and a sense of collective belonging. Every household had established roles for each member, along with large family sizes and community living. However, the nuclearisation of families, changing roles of women and men, and increased immigration have transformed family and individual psychology, contributing to loneliness among the youth and elderly alike.

In today’s paradoxical world of disconnection amidst hyper-connectivity—attributed to the digital revolution—youth are specifically battling anxiety, depression, and psychological distress, deteriorating their overall well-being. Furthermore, just as industrialisation fragmented familial and work structures, the digital economy today blurs work–life boundaries, causing a new form of anomie. A 2023 study from Germany found significant associations between work-life balance and stress and anxiety levels among Generation Z. Moreover, in the age of information, surrounded by global environmental and sociopolitical stressors, exposure to negative media adds to the psychological triggers.

Just as industrialisation fragmented familial and work structures, the digital economy today blurs work–life boundaries, causing a new form of anomie.

Although the advent of the 4IR and artificial intelligence (AI) offer new avenues for providing mental health support, they are not without challenges. An increasing number of users are relying on AI for therapy and companionship, due to models emulating human-like empathy and trustworthiness. However, instances of amplified delusions and loss of life have also been reported. Additionally, the redundancy of several roles and the possibility of AI-induced job displacement were found to have substantially affected mental health among IT professionals in India.

Shifting Gender Roles and Identity

Furthermore, with the structural shift in previously pre-determined gender roles, the Brookings Institution found that as women’s roles expand, boys and men are struggling to cope, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds and marginalised communities in the United States (US) – an unanticipated challenge that threatens the equality the world hopes to achieve. This holds true for education, where adolescent boys in school fall behind girls due to the delayed development of the prefrontal cortex.

With automation processes replacing traditionally male jobs in manufacturing and industry, men with lower levels of education are facing higher unemployment rates. Meanwhile, men continue to face stigmatisation in traditionally female jobs – a challenge that receives greater attention in the context of women in traditionally male jobs.

Brookings Institution found that as women’s roles expand, boys and men are struggling to cope, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds and marginalised communities

Additionally, as the model of the woman has expanded beyond caregivers to economic contributors, the roles of men remain limited, with several feeling a loss of sense of purpose in this new reality. While the empowerment of women over the past few decades has been integral and commendable, more concerted efforts must be made in policy frameworks to ensure that the gender gap does not widen as men and women collectively adjust to the changing societal roles and expectations.

Parallelly, a 2025 study in India found that employed women face greater stress compared to non-working women, in their efforts to balance their dual roles at home and in the workplace. The study finds that a ‘role overload’ led to chronic fatigue and stress among working women, with spillovers causing conflict within the family and job dissatisfaction.

Environmental and Humanitarian Crisis

There’s also growing recognition of the association between environmental and climate factors and mental health triggered by resource scarcity, food insecurity, displacement, extreme weather events, and ecosystem disruptions. The already economically weaker and marginalised communities face a disproportionate burden of these struggles, compounding their vulnerabilities.

Moreover, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), among those living in conflict-affected regions, one in five individuals face mental health disorders, ranging from mild depression or anxiety to psychosis, of which one in 10 are living with moderate or severe mental disorders, with limited access to treatment and care. This year’s World Mental Health Day campaign focuses on the theme of mental health in humanitarian emergencies, highlighting the importance of psychological support for those affected, addressing their immediate needs, and fostering long-term recovery as they rebuild their lives.

The Impact on Mental Health

Furthermore, the theory Durkheim proposed is also evident in today’s context, particularly in global trends. According to the WHO, over 1 billion people are living with mental health disorders. Around 5.7 percent of adults globally suffered from depression in 2021, with women more susceptible to depressive disorder compared to men. Of those in the working-age group, 15 percent were estimated to have a mental health disorder in 2019. Simultaneously, about 359 million people suffer from anxiety disorders, with only one in four individuals receiving treatment for it. In 2021 alone, suicide claimed an estimated 727,000 lives – the third leading cause of death among ages 15-29 across countries and socioeconomic contexts. Concerningly, 73 percent of the suicides globally occurred in low- and middle-income countries. Further displacement and humanitarian emergencies significantly increase the risk of mental health disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

The development of mental health services is not advancing nearly enough to support the growing mental health challenges.

Collectively, beyond the healthcare costs of mental health, the indirect costs—inclusive of loss in productivity due to depression and anxiety—were found to cost the global economy approximately US$1 trillion annually. An estimated 12 billion working days are lost annually due to depression and anxiety. Yet, only 45 percent of the countries have mental health legislation in compliance with international human rights standards. Investments remain low as well, with median government spending in 2024 accounting for merely 2 percent of the total health budgets. Further illuminating the disparity, there is only one government mental health worker per 10,000 population. Simultaneously, the development of mental health services is not advancing nearly enough to support the growing mental health challenges.

Mental Health Burden in India

With the economy rapidly transforming, contemporary India’s struggles echo those of the rest of the world. In line with the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, India’s Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, provides the legal framework for providing services to protect, promote and fulfil the rights of individuals with mental illnesses. However, data from the first National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) conducted in 2015–16 indicated that 5.1 percent of the population had struggled with depressive disorders in their lifetime. India also had a suicide incidence rate of 10.6 per 100,000 population, with higher suicide rates for men (14.3 percent) compared to women (7.2 percent). Certain groups, such as those in urban metros, faced a higher prevalence of mental disorders, while women more commonly faced mood disorders compared to men. Further, about 9.8 million Indians between the ages of 13 and 17 required active mental health interventions. The WHO estimates suggest that this mental health burden costs India 2443 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per 10,000 population, and an economic loss between 2012 and 2030 estimated to be US$1.03 trillion. India is currently working on the second round of the NMHS to guide policy efforts and enhance the redressal of mental health struggles faced by society.

The suicide rates mirror the images of the stresses and fractures in collective life, not merely the failings of individuals but a barometer of society’s support structures and its power to confer purpose, belonging, and stability.

Way Forward

Overall, in periods of significant transition, mental health vulnerabilities rise, with societies struggling to adapt to the pace of change. While modernisation has created opportunities, such as increased autonomy for women, global economic and cultural integration, and rising literacy, it has also restructured family life, work patterns, social relationships, and society as a whole. Despite growing concern, efforts are insufficient to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target of a one-third reduction in suicide rates by 2030, with estimations predicting only a 12 percent decline on the current trajectory. The suicide rates mirror the images of the stresses and fractures in collective life, not merely the failings of individuals but a barometer of society’s support structures and its power to confer purpose, belonging, and stability.

As the world observes World Mental Health Day on 10 October, there is an urgent need to collectively address the mental health challenges of a rapidly transforming society. Thriving in a relentlessly changing world requires investments in mental health that must keep pace, ensuring that change creates prosperity without sacrificing well-being. This requires cross-sector collaboration, policy innovation, and genuine commitment for not only an economically better but also a psychologically sustainable future.

Nimisha Chadha (ORF Foundation)
21 October 2025

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