Mental Health Concerns among Youth in Mumbai Reflect Personality & Mood Disorders, Learning Disabilities, and ADHD: Mpower

Mumbai, October 10, 2025: As part of its ongoing mission to strengthen mental health awareness and accessibility for young adults, Mpower, an initiative of the Aditya Birla Education Trust led by Mrs Neerja Birla, continues to address the mounting mental health challenges faced by India’s youth. Between 2022 and 2025, Mpower reached over 5,27,000 young adults across India, reinforcing its commitment to building a mentally resilient generation. The data collated across major educational hubs shows significant engagement — Pune led with 2,67,175 beneficiaries, followed by Mumbai with 1,65,000 youth aged 18–25, Kota with 35,109, Bangalore with 15,482, and Delhi with 8,706.

This analysis highlights that Mumbai recorded the second-highest number of young adults seeking mental health support, reflecting the city’s growing awareness and willingness among youth to proactively address emotional well-being. Within Mumbai, 53,657 males and 69,084 females engaged with Mpower’s programmes—revealing a growing openness among young women to seek professional help, while underscoring the need to bring more young men into mental health conversations. The most prevalent concerns among Mumbai’s youth include personality, mood, and anxiety disorders, alongside a rising incidence of learning disabilities and an emerging trend of adult ADHD. Together, these findings signal an urgent need for early intervention and sustained, systemic mental health support to safeguard the emotional health of India’s young population.

In response to this growing need, Mpower strengthened its outreach through college engagement activities, wellness booths, and interactive workshops aimed at fostering awareness and building coping skills among students. Activities such as the “Art of Letting Go” Balloon Activity at institutions including Sydenham College of Commerce & Economics, B.K. Birla College, K.J. Somaiya College, and Marine Drive encouraged students to symbolically release their worries and participate in peer-led sessions promoting expression, healing, and community support. These initiatives exemplify Mpower’s commitment to creating safe and supportive spaces for youth to openly address mental health challenges, particularly during World Mental Health Day.

Mrs. Neerja Birla, Founder & Chairperson of Mpower, ABET said, “India’s youth hold immense potential, yet many struggle in silence and addressing this is a collective responsibility of us as a society. Our vision of Swasth Yuva Bharat is to nurture a generation that is resilient, mentally strong and emotionally balanced, achieved through early interventions in schools, empowering educators and strengthening peer networks and counselling support. At Mpower, we work with educational institutions on early intervention programs and promote mental health literacy in communities to create safe spaces where young people feel heard and empowered. This World Mental Health Day, it is time to move from awareness to action and make seeking help normalised.”

Placed against the national backdrop, the urgency becomes even more stark. According to NCRB data, suicide remains the leading cause of death among young Indians, with a 65% increase between 2013 and 2023. With over 250 million youth in India, the need for stigma-free, accessible, and integrated mental health support systems can no longer be delayed. The data reinforces Mpower’s belief that addressing mental health at an early stage—through awareness, education, and safe spaces—is essential to safeguard the emotional well-being of India’s youth.

Beyond campuses, Mpower continues to expand its outreach into workplaces and communities to ensure that young professionals are not left behind. The Corporate Mental Health Pledge has brought together over 75 organisations nationwide, uniting them in a shared mission to embed mental health within workplace culture and provide accessible support to young employees. Simultaneously, the Human Library initiative enables adolescents and young adults to share lived experiences of anxiety, bullying, and resilience, fostering empathy, reducing stigma, and equipping peers with practical coping strategies.

These sustained efforts demonstrate Mpower’s holistic approach to mental health—one that extends beyond awareness to build an ecosystem of care and understanding across every stage of youth life.

Furthermore, for those in need of immediate, confidential support, Mpower’s 1on1 Mental Health Toll-Free 24x7 Helpline is available at 1800-120-820050.

About Mpower

Mpower, an initiative of Aditya Birla Education Trust is a pioneering social enterprise dedicated to transforming India's approach to mental health. Founded 9 years ago, Mpower has emerged as a leading force in spreading awareness, reducing stigma, and delivering holistic mental health care. With a robust team of over 200 trained professionals, Mpower impacts more than 121 million lives across seven cities, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Pune. Operating through five key verticals—Movement, Clinical Care, Outreach, Academia, and Mpower 1 on 1—Mpower offers a comprehensive range of services. The Movement focuses on changing cultural perceptions and alleviating stigma. Clinical Care provides world-class mental health services through the Centre, the Foundation, and the Cell, catering to various needs from holistic care to affordable support for the underprivileged. The Outreach vertical drives awareness and capacity-building through IGNITE Programs for schools, colleges, NGOs, and corporates. Academia equips individuals and professionals with skills to handle mental health crises and foster empathy. The Helpline offers 24/7 multilingual support, while special projects like Samvedana enhance mental health care in primary health centers. Mpower’s integrated approach and collaboration with government agencies underscore its commitment to creating a supportive and stigma-free mental health landscape.