Lives Lost, Lessons Missed: India’s Health Systems Under Fire

Lives Lost, Lessons Missed: India’s Health Systems Under Fire

By Health Correspondent | July 29, 2025

The recent Air India crash and a growing number of sudden cardiac arrests among young, seemingly fit individuals have reignited a national conversation around the urgent need for better mental health support and emergency preparedness across India’s institutions and public spaces.

The tragic Air India accident earlier this month, which claimed multiple lives and injured several crew members, has highlighted a major gap in the airline industry’s psychological support systems. Experts point to chronic underinvestment in mental health services for aviation staff, despite the high-pressure environments in which pilots and cabin crew operate.

"Psychological stress is often invisible but very real in the aviation sector," said Dr. Meenal Sharma, a Delhi-based psychiatrist specializing in occupational trauma. “After traumatic events like crashes, crews face long-term consequences—ranging from PTSD to depression—but structured mental health follow-up is still missing.”

In a separate but equally alarming trend, the country has seen a spike in reports of young adults collapsing during physical activity. In Hyderabad, a 25-year-old man died mid-game while playing badminton, despite having no prior heart conditions. Similar incidents in Mumbai and Bengaluru have prompted cardiologists to call for immediate deployment of AEDs (automated external defibrillators) in gyms, offices, and sports complexes, along with widespread CPR training for the public.

"India lacks basic lifesaving infrastructure in public areas," said Dr. Arvind Prakash, a cardiologist at Fortis Hospital. "By the time an ambulance arrives, it’s often too late. We need an aggressive campaign for cardiac emergency readiness—similar to fire drills."

Mental health professionals warn that the country’s reactive approach—addressing trauma only after crises—needs to shift toward prevention and resilience-building. This includes mandatory psychological screening for high-stress professions, regular mental health check-ins, and post-incident counselling protocols.

Meanwhile, in Parliament, health experts and opposition leaders are pressing the government to introduce the long-pending "National Mental Health and Crisis Response Bill," which proposes standardized post-trauma intervention services and mandatory AED installations in all public buildings with over 100 daily occupants.

“We need to treat mental health and emergency preparedness as non-negotiable public safety measures,” said Member of Parliament R. K. Mehra. “These incidents are not isolated—they’re warnings.”

As India rapidly urbanizes and lifestyles become more high-pressure, experts stress that proactive investment in both mental health and emergency infrastructure is no longer optional—it’s a national priority.