self doubt, and th; ovale i i him. has pinned all their hopes on hil nd suffers in silence—fearing that any ess, or WO! rse, defeat. 17. In a Tier-1 city. Aparna. days and most weekends. He spirit.” On the surface. she is succe: insomnia, anxiety. dismissed by peers as “just part In a small rented room in De has been preparing relentlessly { daily, battling financial pressure. risin repeated failure. His family back home it hard to sleep, avoids social interactions, a acknowledgment of stress would be perceived as weakn Meanwhile, Meena, a 42-year-old government school teacher in a small town. has been silently battling depression for the past two years. After losing her husban during the pandemic. she returned to work to support herchildren, but overwhelming responsibilities. lack of support. and workplace indifference pushed her further into emotional isolation. Despite bein rformance has: ga dedicated educator, her perfo declined, and colleagues whisper that she has “lost interest.” s—are united by an ns and geographie: ‘ ma, institutional These individuals—spread across professio' fuelled by social stig! invisible crisis: deteriorating mental health, neglect. and the glorification of hustle. (a) Identify the ethical issues surrounding mental health. (b) What attitudinal and behavioral strategies can be adopted to effect attitudinal change around mental health. especially in high-stress environments? (c) As a future civil servant. how would you act as a change agent in your sphere of influence to promote mental well-being while balancing administrative efficiency and empathy?

Topper: Akash Kumar · AIR 101 · 2025 · Page 56