Does India need Life Skill Education at all?

Recently, The Global Agenda Council on Well-being and Mental Health has found that the lack of human wellbeing, in the form of a global syndrome, has emerged as a major challenge of the 21st century, and the costs associated with mental illness and non-communicable diseases were estimated to be 5% of GDP annually, with most costs related to absenteeism and the inability to work due to poor health.1 Worldwide approximately 450 million people have been suffering from some form of mental health problems and the projected burden of the problem is more alarming considering the estimate that one person in four will develop one or more mental or behavioral disorders during their lifetime.2 This will account for approximately 15% of the total Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) lost due to all diseases or injuries by the year 2020.2 Therefore, human development and global economy, at this outset, may suffer a large set back unless the problems related to mental health are addressed properly and all efforts towards a sustainable development in the post-MDG era may remain stranded.