New Delhi: Searches on the internet related to mental health increased 41%in India in the first 10 months of this year compared with the same period of 2023, according to a report, indicating that Indians are increasingly recognising and prioritising mental wellbeing alongside physical health. Queries related to healthcare rose 23% during this period.
The data paints a compelling picture of changing healthcare priorities among Indians, with particularly strong growth in such queries seen in non-metropolitan cities that registered a 25% increase in overall healthcare searches, said the report released by Justdial, which provides search services for products and services in India.
Kolkata (43%), Mumbai (36%) and Kozhikode (29%) were among cities that showed strong growth in searches for psychologists.
The focus on physical wellness was equally pronounced, with orthopaedic care searches rising by 38% across India. Lucknow and Delhi led the trend with 37% and 36% increases, respectively, while Bengaluru and Patna both saw 32% growth.
A 28% increase in searches for gynaecologists and obstetricians was also seen. Cities like Pune (33%), Hyderabad (31%) and Mumbai (29%) showed particularly strong interest in women’s healthcare services.
The data reveal an interesting contrast between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. While metro cities showed a collective increase of 15% in healthcare searches with Delhi leading at 20%, followed by Hyderabad at 17% and Chennai at 16% — non-metro cities demonstrated stronger growth. Chandigarh emerged as the frontrunner with a 31% increase, followed by Lucknow at 23% and Surat at 22%, suggesting rapidly growing health consciousness in smaller urban centres, it said.
The search for Ayurvedic doctors showed an 18% increase nationwide with particularly strong showings in Delhi (29%) and Mumbai (21%), indicating a growing interest in traditional healing methods. “This trend, combined with a steady 13% increase in searches for general physicians, suggests that Indians are increasingly adopting a balanced approach to healthcare, combining modern medicine with traditional wellness practices,” the report said.
“From mental wellness to reproductive health, from specialised care to traditional medicine, the data points to an encouraging trend: Indians are taking a more proactive and holistic approach to their health and well-being,” it said.
