Health · Mental Health · 6 hrs ago
Psychologist says lasting changes in mood and behavior should be recognised
People do not always know why they feel mentally different, psychologist Rituparna Ghosh says.
She describes signs such as getting irritated easily, avoiding people, feeling tired, struggling to concentrate or losing interest in activities.
Some people may feel blank or disconnected rather than sad.
A 2015–2016 survey in India estimated that about 11 percent of adults had a mental disorder requiring active intervention, while treatment for common mental disorders remained limited.
Ghosh says distress can show up in behavior even when there is no obvious crisis and daily responsibilities continue.
A change in mood does not always mean a serious problem, but changes lasting for weeks and affecting relationships, work, sleep or everyday life deserve attention.
She says acknowledging that something feels wrong is a first step toward understanding it.
Psychologist Dr Rituparna Ghosh says lasting changes in mood and behaviour can signal mental health concerns.
Possible changes include irritability, avoiding people, constant tiredness, difficulty concentrating and losing interest in activities.
Ghosh says distress may appear in behaviour even when people cannot identify a clear reason for feeling different.
She advises acknowledging that something feels wrong, especially when changes continue for weeks and affect everyday life.
A survey cited by Ghosh found an estimated treatment gap of around 85 percent for common mental disorders in India.
- Who
- Psychologist Dr Rituparna Ghosh.
- What
- She explains why people should recognise lasting changes in mood and behaviour as possible mental health concerns.
- When
- Published on 12 October 2026.
- Where
- India; Ghosh is a senior consultant psychologist at Apollo Hospitals in Navi Mumbai.
- Why
- Changes can be difficult to recognise and may affect relationships, work, sleep or everyday life if they continue.
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- Psychologist
- Dr Rituparna Ghosh
- Publication date
- 12 October 2026
- Survey period
- National Mental Health Survey of India, 2015–2016
- Adults experiencing a mental disorder requiring active intervention
- Around 11 percent
- Treatment gap for common mental disorders
- Around 85 percent
What people are saying
Some may not even feel particularly sad. They just feel blank, disconnected or mentally exhausted,
While not every bad day or change in mood means there is something extremely alarming, these changes need to be looked at when they continue for weeks.
Sometimes, the first step is not finding the right word for what you are feeling. It is simply acknowledging that something does not feel right and giving yourself the space to understand it.
Sources
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