US, Aug. 10 -- Every year, Indian social media is filled with polished graphics promoting mental-health awareness, often supported by celebrities. Progressive, empathetic and, for the most part, accurate language tells us that the taboos surrounding mental illness are finally being challenged.

Wellness festivals are now common in major metropolitan cities, while corporate India increasingly offers Employee Assistance Programs. The message is ubiquitous, modern and clear: "It is okay not to be okay. Seek help."

For the past decade, India has worked to challenge the stigma surrounding psychological distress and encourage a necessary cultural shift. However, when a young professional or middle-class citizen takes this advice seriously and...