New Delhi, March 23 -- Conversations about mental health are audible now more than ever before, and India Inc. appears to be taking employee well-being seriously. But much of this response-often taking the form of wellness apps, meditation rooms and World Mental Health Day campaigns in the office-remains superficial, even performative.

At workplaces, mental health is often treated as a trend to be managed rather than a structural issue to be addressed. The focus is on visible, low-effort, individual-focused interventions such as mindfulness training, yoga sessions and herbal teas in the cafeteria, even as the deeper causes of distress remain unexamined. While these approaches can offer short-term relief, occupational health research indi...