He was suffering from depression. Hopelessness and foreboding consumed his soul. He came across a podcast on tackling depression and was hooked ever since. The scarcity of therapists, high costs and almost non-existent mental health protocols helped him find direction. He is one of many Indians who have subscribed to the power of mental health podcasts.
But how do we learn the art of acceptance and surrender? What are the tools to deal with the many “dumping situations” in life? Sure, you can post about the wonderful life you are leading and the utopian existence, but the truth is clear and shows that it is not. One in seven Indians faces some form of mental illness and the mental health infrastructure in India is woefully lacking.
A rise in mental health podcasts and the growing number of urban listeners are addressing this worrying gap. When anxiety, debilitating stress, and dark thoughts emerge at whimsical intervals, often like a shroud, cluttering the brain, seeking out podcasts to fill the void has become a go-to for many, myself included.
Dr Pulkit Sharma, a clinical psychologist, said, “In India alone, 14 per cent of the population struggles with various mental disorders. There are major gaps in mental health services here. The fact that only 1 per cent of India’s health budget is allocated to mental health raises serious concerns. We are responsible for the mental health crisis that is manifesting itself in the form of widespread anxiety, addiction and depression.”
In the face of high treatment costs, a shortage of qualified psychologists per 1,000 population, and the stigma surrounding seeking treatment, people have been given a remedy to find relief, a solution, a cure-all: mental health podcasts. Thankfully, podcasts are relevant, incisive, and grounded in research and science, rekindling awareness and coping mechanisms. Latest research shows that podcasts are helping individuals recognize their conditions and either self-manage or seek help for milder issues.
One research paper concluded that mental health podcasts are a great psychoeducational tool to raise awareness and develop solutions in society. The article on sciencedirect.com concluded that “mental health podcast listeners’ motivations and experiences revolve around developing mental health literacy. Participants with the lowest levels of education and mental health literacy reported perceiving the greatest benefits from listening to podcasts.”
For Kavita Ganeshan, a single mother who suffers from depression, these podcasts have become her “therapy sessions.” Of course, this is not out of discretion. Dr. Pulkit Sharma and Jungian counselor and psychologist Chandini Harlalkar reiterate that “there is still a stigma attached to mental health issues, so podcasts can play a big role,” and Dr. Sharma adds, “A patient suffering from severe OCD recently told me that podcasts helped her realise the seriousness of her condition and finally get treatment. In most cases, many patients are hesitant to seek treatment. But while podcasts are no substitute for treatment, they do open a window of hope to find light in your own darkness.”
Psychologist and counsellor Chandini Harlalka observes that mental health issues are on the rise across all age groups and says, “While podcasts are a great guide to mental health issues, while intellectually understanding a concept (like trauma) may empower an individual to strategise, it’s not enough emotionally. You can’t self-medicate. Listening to a professional certainly helps, but personal interaction is essential for serious mental issues that a therapist provides. Find a therapist,” says Chandini.
The current mental health pandemic has highlighted a lack of protocols, infrastructure and licensed professionals. “Podcasts could be a bridge to seeking therapy, but people should always check the background and credibility of the therapist, and whether the counsellor is themselves supervised,” Chandini adds.
Podcasts to clear up confusion
By talking, listening and absorbing, urban Indians (mostly) have access to an encyclopedia of mental health podcasts, many of which are free and have solid experience, background and credentials. This “listening therapy” addresses the lack of psychologists, funding and even initiatives to open the door to possibilities. Below are some of today’s top podcasts:
1. The Happiness Lab by Laurie Santos
https://www.drlauriesantos.com/
Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos practices and preaches about happiness. Her Happiness Lab podcast and courses on psychology and the good life have been so critically acclaimed that she launched a free course on Coursera called “The Science of Happiness.” As the Chandrika and Ranjan Tandon Professor of Psychology at Yale and Dean of Silliman College, she seeks to spread mental best practices for living with freedom and acceptance. The course has attracted over 4 million learners, and Dr. Santos launched a podcast called The Happiness Lab, which is ranked in the top 3 podcasts on Apple and has been downloaded over 85 million times since its launch.
Hi Fives: Helps you explore and understand the roots of emotions, anxiety and trauma. Provides scientific background to sound practice.
2. The Huberman Lab by Dr. Andrew Huberman
https://www.hubermanlab.com/
Hosted by neuroscientist and Stanford professor Andrew Huberman, the podcast is often ranked among the top in the science, fitness and health categories. Huberman launched the podcast during the 2021 COVID-19 pandemic as an informational tool to help improve public health.
High Five: Explains emotions, the brain, and the biology of why we behave the way we do, helping individuals not only learn strategies but also know why.
3. Where Do I Start? by Esther Perel
Esther Perel
Belgian-born psychotherapist Esther Perel is an “expert” on relationships, emotions and sexuality. Author of the New York Times bestsellers The State of Affairs and Mating in Captivity, her 20 million viewed TED Talk, her own therapeutic practice and her science-backed podcast Where Should We Begin?, Esther Perel uncovers and enters into extreme discomfort, recounting real stories and experiences, uncovering or gleaning learnings and behavioral patterns to decipher and address personal pain. It’s like witnessing a therapy session, where Perel is moved by each nuance, emotion and sensation to decipher the true meaning of the cacophony of voices.
Hi Fives: It’s a peek into a therapy session at times, often a visceral look into the depths of human frailty and emotion, with Perel’s clarity of thought unearthing the answers.
4. Tony Robbins Podcast
Tony Robbins – Tony Robbins Official Website
Tony Robbins is the author of six international best-sellers, and in his latest book, LIFE FORCE: How New Breakthroughs in Precision Medicine Can Transform the Quality of Your Life and Those You Love, he delves into the final chapter of his book about emotions and how to control them.
Not only are his podcasts vibrant and empowering, with great insights into mental health and a host of new therapies, treatments and practices (which I would recommend doing your due diligence before adopting), but his transformative talks also offer a new perspective on life.
High fives: His strong, commanding voice, his attention to detail, and the tips and strategies he shares.
5. Lewis Howes, The School of Greatness
House
When Lewis Howes speaks, his intonation and tone (even on a podcast) resonates with listeners as they reflect his eureka moments on topics such as mental health, trauma, emotions, motivation, wellness, and more. His podcasts are informative, shining a light on emotional and physical struggles, and are top-notch. The School of Greatness podcast has had over 150 million downloads and 1,000 episodes since its launch in 2013.
High five: The final five greatness questions are simple tips for living free, and the straightforward approach to skim through your fears and struggles and gain deeper wisdom is spot on.
6. Unlocking Us by Brene Brown
https://brenebrown.com/
https://open.spotify.com/show/ 4P86ZzHf7EOlRG7do9LkKZ
The importance of vulnerability is at the top of Professor Brene Brown’s list of emotions. A research professor at the University of Houston and visiting professor of management at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin, she states on her website (brenebrown.com) that “I’ve been studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy for the past 20 years.” Her podcast, Unlocking Us, is the culmination of years of research, engagement, and deep study. Professor Brown speaks to connect on a very visceral emotional level about uncomfortable emotions that are often pushed aside or projected in another form. High five: Intellectual understanding aside, Brene’s courage to explore unwanted, deeply painful, real emotions is a lesson in itself.
7. Jay Shetty and Intentionally
https://www.jayshetty.me/
https://open.spotify.com/show/ 5EqqB52m2bsr4k1Ii7sStc
London-born Jay Shetty’s introverted life was transformed after hearing a Buddhist monk speak. Thus began a journey to explore the whys, whys and what ifs of life. To further explore this incredible weight of existence, he spent time with monks in India and embarked on a three-year journey as a Hindu monk in India and the UK. He was then awakened to ancient practices such as breathing and mindfulness, as well as eastern philosophy and science.
Now with a following of over 50 million, and tapping into his innate urge in life to be of service to others, Shetty harnesses the transformative power of digital and audio media with his podcast, “On Purpose with Jay Shetty,” which is downloaded over 35 million times per month and ranks number one among most platforms. Guests who learn from the best in their industry include President Joe Biden, Oprah and Selena Gomez, Michelle Obama, Lewis Hamilton, Kobe Bryant, and more.
High Five: His daily posts and episodes are concise, heartfelt, and often humorous, making the less-than-savory aspects of life bearable. Short, wise, and incredibly light-hearted, Jay’s clarity of thought guides the viewer.
8. Mel Robbins Podcast
https://www.melrobbins.com/
Author of The High 5 Habit, The 5 Second Rule, and the #1 Webby Award-winning The Mel Robbins Podcast, her empathy lies in personal posts that show each individual’s flaws, personal anecdotes that make you love her, and tackling tough topics with like-minded experts.
9. The Drive by Dr. Peter Attiah
House
Podcaster and physician Peter Attia, MD, combines medicine and science to advocate best practices for enhancing mental health. He believes in Medicine 3.0, with the goal of increasing lifespan and health span. In his #1 New York Times bestselling book on longevity, “Outlive,” which delves deep into life and health, he has a chapter on emotional health that helps navigate the emotional overload that most of us are enslaved to. In “Outlive,” Dr. Attia says, “When I thought about it, I realized how emotional health is related to longevity.”
