As we step into 2026, a year filled with new promises and resolutions, I found myself pausing today after reading a heart-wrenching tweet from Ira Khan, Aamir Khan’s daughter. She shared her ongoing struggle with depression. It struck a chord with me because, despite the “New Year, New Me” hashtags, depression has become an alarmingly common phenomenon that we still prefer to sweep under the rug.
Today, I want to have a heart-to-heart with you. We often talk about career goals, financial planning, and physical fitness, but we neglect the very roots that hold our life’s tree upright: our mental health.
The Hidden Shadows in Our Homes
Reading Ira’s post reminded me of a dear friend I visited recently. Just hours before I arrived, her life had changed forever. Her daughter, a bright student in the 12th class, had hanged herself while her mother was right there in the house. The silence of that tragedy is deafening.
It also brought back memories of another family friend. Their son, a 10th-grade student, was deeply unhappy. He had no interest in engineering, but his parents—driven by their own dreams and hard-earned money—insisted he pursue it. He couldn’t survive the pressure. Eventually, he dropped out.
The parents were devastated, not just by the loss of money, but by a sense of “shame.” They refused to disclose his condition to anyone. They tried to “fix” him using their own limited mindset, failing to realize he was ill, not rebellious. Today, that boy is in a rehab home.
This is the cost of silence.
Checkout: online counselling for parents
Why is Mental Health Still a Stigma?
In India, we have a peculiar way of looking at illness. If you have thyroid issues, sugar, or blood pressure, you call your friends from the hospital bed. We even share cancer diagnoses with a certain confidence, knowing we will receive sympathy and support.
But when the “physical illness” happens in the brain, we become shy. We hide.
Let’s be clear: A mental illness is a physical illness of the brain. Just as the thyroid affects your metabolism, certain chemical imbalances in the brain cause disturbances in thinking, behavior, and emotion.
The Reality in Numbers
According to recent data:
19% of adults suffer from mental illness annually.
46% of teenagers experience mental health challenges.
13% of children are affected every year.
Untreated mental illness leads to higher medical expenses, poor performance at school or work, drug addiction, and, tragically, an increased risk of suicide.
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Understanding the “Roots” of the Tree
I am deeply concerned because the mind is like the roots of a tree. A tree might look magnificent and green from the outside, but if the roots are weak, it will fall.
In foreign countries, if you go through a traumatic event, doctors automatically assign a psychologist to help you process the trauma. In India, we often wait until the person “breaks” before we admit there is a problem. We fear being called “mad.”
Let’s change the narrative for 2026. Mental health is not about being “mad”; it’s about being human.
How to Identify the Warning Signs of Mental health?
As family members and friends, we must be vigilant. You don’t need a medical degree to notice when something is “slightly beyond normal.” Look out for these symptoms:
Physical/Routine Changes in eating or sleeping patterns; chronic lack of energy.
Social Withdrawing from people and activities they used to love.
Emotional Feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, or severe mood swings.
Cognitive Becoming unusually forgetful, confused, or unable to perform daily tasks.
Risk Factors Thoughts of self-harm or a significant increase in alcohol/drug intake.
If you see these signs in yourself or a loved one, seek help. Do not overthink it. Overthinking is often the biggest thief of happiness.
My Personal Journey: A Lesson from the Past
I don’t just speak as a Life Coach; I speak as someone who has seen this monster up close. My own mother suffered from severe mental sickness when I was growing up.
In those days, we didn’t understand it. We thought it was “just her nature” or that she was “just sleepy.” Because we didn’t seek the right help in time, her condition worsened to the point where she had to undergo electric shock therapy.
Watching her go through that trauma was heartbreaking. Today, times have changed. We have counselors, advanced therapy, and life coaches. We have the vocabulary to talk about it. We shouldn’t have to repeat the mistakes of the past.
Actionable Steps for a Mentally Healthy 2026
If you are struggling, remember: You do not have to struggle in silence. Here is how you can begin your healing journey:
Prioritize Joy, Not Just Routine: I lost a relative to COVID-19. A family member told me she stays “busy in her routine” to cope. But routine isn’t enough. You must do things that give you genuine joy to secrete the “happy hormones” (dopamine and serotonin) that fight depression.
Move Your Body: Regular exercise, Yoga, and deep breathing are scientifically proven to improve mental clarity.
Never Give Up Spirit: Healing takes time. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Seek Professional Coaching: If you wanted to learn piano, you’d get a teacher. If you have back pain, you’d see a physiotherapist. Why should your mind be any different?
Conclusion: Asking for Help is Courage
Friends, this isn’t just about Ira Khan or the families I mentioned. This is about you.
Mental health is nothing to be ashamed of. There is no bias here—only the need for healing. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness; it is the most courageous step you can take for your future.
I want every one of you to be mentally strong, resilient, and truly happy. Let’s make 2026 the year we stop hiding and start healing.
