Episode 112 of The Prakhar Gupta Xperience features India’s top mental health experts in a round table discussion on depression.Dr. Annie BaxiDr. Annie Baxi is a psychologist and academic with over 7 years of teaching experience. She is currently a visiting faculty member at Ashoka University, where she teaches courses such as Qualitative Research Methods and Psychology of Health and Illness. Her research focuses on the social and cultural dimensions of mental health, with a particular emphasis on gender.Dr. Praveen TripathiDr. Praveen Tripathi is a leading psychiatrist, sexologist, and addiction specialist with 17 years of clinical experience. He has worked extensively in the fields of neuropsychiatry and behavioral medicine. Notably, he is one of the few Indian doctors to have cleared the United States Clinical Skills Exam, bringing an international standard to his practice.Dr. Siddharth WarrierDr. Siddharth Warrier is a Mumbai-based neurologist with a passion for science communication. He is widely known for his YouTube channel, where he educates over 400,000 subscribers on topics related to the brain, human behavior, and mental health.Recording Date: February 18, 2025

This is what we talked about:

00:00 - Introduction02:50 - First Experience with Depression08:31 - Is Sadness the Beginning of Depression27:11 - Is Depression a Real Disease33:56 - The Brain Science Behind Depression52:01 - How Society Impacts the Mind1:00:31 - Is Modern Life Making Us Depressed1:04:38 - Can Anger Help You Heal1:12:15 - How Doctors Decide Prescriptions1:14:02 - The Role of Childhood in Depression1:23:00 - How to Identify the Root Cause1:32:35 - Body vs. Mind What’s Really Wrong1:38:57 - The Rise of Antipsychotic Drugs1:42:30 - Experts on Depression and Anxiety1:43:17 - Can Fear Lead to Depression1:49:35 - What Healing with a Psychologist Looks Like2:02:12 - The Limitations of Therapy2:07:00 - Is the Mental Health System Actually Helping2:14:31 - Are We Overdiagnosing Mental Illness2:18:11 - Why People Avoid Psychiatric Medication2:26:30 - Beyond CBT What Else Can Help2:29:16 - What Are ACT and CBT2:30:24 - The Bhagavad Gita and Mental Health2:34:44 - How CBT Actually Works2:45:13 - Can Psychedelics Treat Depression