A study points out that more than 40% of India’s corporate employees suffer from depression and anxiety. It’s a common illness, yet talking about it is still a taboo. And it costs the global economy $1 trillion in lost productivity each year.

What are some recognisable signs of a mental health disorder? How can you help a colleague who’s struggling to cope? How does one go about looking for professional help, and is it accessible?

In this episode of WorklifeIndia, we speak to a Bollywood star who spoke up about her struggle with depression, a therapist and counsellor working on mental health for more than two decades, the founder of a start-up bringing happiness to the corporate world, and a former corporate employee who was asked to leave her job over a mental health disorder and has now launched an initiative to sensitise workplaces.

We ask them what practical solutions workplaces can implement to provide support to their employees.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Contributors: Deepika Padukone, Bollywood star and depression survivor; Anna Chandy, chairperson of the board of trustrees, the Live Love Laugh Foundation; Karan Behl, founder and chief happiness officer, Happiitude; Deepti Ahuja, founder, Sense of Self Mental Health Initiative

Image: Deepika Padukone, founder of the Live Love Laugh Foundation, attends the unveiling event for a report on the public perception towards mental health in India, in New Delhi on March 23, 2018 (Credit: Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images)