More Indians Turning Online for Mental Health Support: Report

A new analysis from Justdial Limited reveals a significant rise in online searches related to mental health support across India, with people increasingly turning to the web to find counselling, therapy and psychiatric services over the past year.

According to the report, which compares search behaviour from February 2025–January 2026 with the previous year, there has been a notable increase in interest across three broad categories: searches for “counselling services” grew by about 14 per cent, “psychiatric services” saw about an 8 per cent rise, and queries specifically for “counselling and therapy centres” climbed roughly 5 per cent nationwide.

Kolkata Tops the Mental Health Search Chart

Among major urban centres, Kolkata registered the largest spike in searches for counselling and therapy centres, with interest more than doubling — a 102 per cent increase compared to the previous year. This sharp rise suggests growing public engagement with structured psychological support options in the eastern metro.

Following Kolkata, Delhi saw a 48 per cent climb in similar searches, while cities such as Lucknow and Surat recorded moderate gains. Smaller yet steady rises were also noted in Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Chandigarh.

Counselling and Psychiatric Services Trends

Within “counselling services,” Delhi led with a 54 per cent increase in general search activity, followed by Mumbai (23 per cent) and Bengaluru (22 per cent), while Chennai saw a smaller uptick. Searches for psychiatric services also grew, with Delhi again leading at around 31 per cent, closely trailed by Lucknow.

Growing Demand and Changing Mindsets

Analysts interpreting the Justdial findings say the upward trend in mental health–related searches reflects a wider shift in public behaviour — moving from passive awareness to active help-seeking. Mental health professionals and digital analysts have pointed out that increased internet access, rising awareness about mental wellbeing and reduced stigma are contributing to more people researching professional support online before reaching out for consultations.