Nearly half of those working in India’s startup ecosystem reported low levels of mental wellbeing, with employees faring worse than founders and investors, according to a new study released ahead of World Mental Health Day on October 10.
Of the 391 respondents who scored below the threshold, 35.3% still described themselves as thriving or doing okay. The report, released ahead of World Mental Health Day, calls for more sustained attention to mental health across India’s startup ecosystem, particularly among employees whose difficulties may otherwise go unrecognised. Another finding was the gap between how people assessed their own mental health and what their wellbeing scores suggested. The report also draws attention to the business implications of poor mental health, citing industry findings that associate prolonged exhaustion with entrepreneurs leaving their businesses and employees taking more sick leave or looking for other jobs. It recommends regular anonymous wellbeing assessments, confidential support systems, training for managers and protected time off. Investors, too, have a role to play, the report suggests, by factoring wellbeing into due diligence and supporting mental health initiatives within their portfolio companies. The research used an adapted version of the World Health Organization’s Five-item Well-Being Index, alongside respondents’ own assessments of their wellbeing. The researchers cautioned that the survey was self-selected and captured responses at a single point in time. The wellbeing threshold used has not been independently validated for the adapted index, and the findings do not establish clinical diagnoses or a causal relationship between workplace conditions and mental health. The difference in wellbeing between founders and employees also narrowed after accounting for demographic factors and working hours.