According to the recently released State of Healthcare in Rural India Report, 2024, rates of anxiety and depression have increased among the Indian rural population over the past few years.

A survey conducted across 5,389 households in 21 states revealed that 45% of people, both genders, in rural India suffer from anxiety-related problems.

The report is a joint effort of Transform Rural India (TRI) and its initiative, Development Intelligence Unit (DIU), to provide an understanding of how people in rural India, which constitutes around 68% of the country’s population, access medical assistance.

An important finding is that 73% of rural households with elderly members require ongoing care. However, hiring an external caregiver is rare in rural India, with only 3% of households opting for this service.

Instead, 95.7% of families preferred family members, mostly women (72.1%), for care, highlighting the need for training in home-based care.

Based on these insights, the report introduced a Care Neighbourhood model, which departs from the traditional approach to health delivery.

This new model recognizes that not all health problems can be solved with medication or clinical interventions. Instead, it promotes holistic, personalized care that takes into account social and ecological factors.

This approach is more flexible than the traditional health model and involves collaboration between health professionals, social service providers, carers, community organisations and residents.

Its goal is to build healthier communities through shared efforts.

Dr Major General (Professor) Atul Kotwal, Executive Director, National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC), stressed the importance of integrating community and behavioural mobilisation in health planning.

He said that although the current health system comprises various providers like ASHAs and CHOs, there is a need for more effective collaboration to enhance care in the neighbourhood.

An important finding of the survey is that levels of anxiety have increased in rural India, indicating that mental health problems are no longer just an urban problem.

In fact, 45% of respondents from rural areas reported that they experience anxiety and distress most of the time, impacting their overall health.

Shyamal Santra, associate director (health and nutrition) at Transform Rural India (TRI), said the report highlights the changing family structure, where more elderly people require care due to the migration of younger members.

Other notable findings include the fact that more than 60% of the respondents do not have life insurance, have limited access to diagnostic facilities and affordable medicines, and 50% of the respondents believe that doing physical labour on agricultural land keeps them healthy without the need for additional exercise.

Furthermore, many villages lack proper drainage and waste disposal systems, and 43% of households dump garbage in open areas.

The report also highlights the importance of training local leaders, self-help groups and service providers to provide better support to individuals and families in rural communities.

The researchers highlighted that this support must be well organised and work closely with local health facilities to ensure effective assistance.