Citizens of Guwahati, Delhi mentally strongest to cope with anxieties: Study

GUWAHATI, June 27 - A study conducted by TRA Research, a consumer insights and brand analytics company, showed that the citizens of Guwahati and Delhi have the highest mental strength to cope with their anxieties since the coronavirus spread started in India.

The study was conducted across 16 cities between March 23 and May 21. It tracked the mental wellbeing of citizens across urban India during the lockdown period.

The demographic pattern of the Mental Wellbeing Index (MWBI) shows that both Guwahati and Delhi (NCR) scored 95 per cent on mental wellbeing.

Hyderabad had 87 per cent mental wellbeing index score displaying �excellent� mental ability. Indore and Chandigarh, both at 78 per cent, are rated �very good� on mental wellbeing.

The cities with the lowest MWBI are Chennai (43 per cent), Nagpur (44 per cent) and Kochi (45 per cent). Lucknow is at 51 per cent and Coimbatore is at 52 per cent, all displaying �poor� mental wellbeing.

Of the 16 cities, only six are above the average MWBI. Bengaluru (56 per cent), Ahmedabad (58 per cent), Mumbai (60 per cent) and Pune (65 per cent) display �fair� mental wellbeing.

Speaking about report N Chandramouli, CEO, TRA Research, said, �The research shows that mental wellbeing impacts people�s coping effectiveness, relationships, performance, mood, emotional balance, and also physical health. The necessity of measuring mental wellbeing is crucial as the most important indicator of how people, cities and countries may get impacted when faced with such a severe crisis, and how they emerge in its wake.�

�The sharpening coronavirus curve, a long-drawn lockdown, with related health, economic and financial insecurities, have pushed Indian citizens into a wave of mental wellbeing anxieties without enough coping mechanisms,� he added.

The coronavirus pandemic has caused another problem � an anxiety pandemic. Fears about health, family health, possibility of financial distress and bleak economic outlook are high on the citizens� worry list and are impacting their mental wellbeing negatively.

The study measured Health Worry, Economy Worry, Family Worry and Financial worry of citizens and their ability to cope with them.

Guwahati has scored 40 per cent on family worry index, 60 per cent on financial worry index, 52 per cent on health worry index and 29 per cent on economy worry index.