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A Veda Rehabilitation & Wellness Insights Report | Published September 2026 Compiled from national surveys, global NRI health studies, and anonymised enquiry patterns observed at Veda between July 2024 and June 2026
The Indian diaspora, numbering over 32 million across 200 countries, is one of the largest and most successful emigrant populations in the world. Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) are celebrated for their professional achievements, economic contributions and cultural ambassadorship. Yet beneath this narrative of success lies a more complex reality, one where mental health challenges and addiction struggle often remain hidden, unacknowledged and untreated.
At Veda Rehabilitation & Wellness, we’ve spent the past two years tracking these invisible struggles, through the enquiries we receive from NRIs and their families across the globe, seeking help for issues ranging from depression and anxiety to alcohol and substance use disorders. What emerges is a portrait of a community grappling with unique stressors, cultural barriers and treatment gaps that demand urgent attention.
This report shares the insights from that analysis. It integrates data from national surveys, global NRI health studies, and anonymised enquiry patterns observed across Veda’s international helplines and virtual consultation services between July 2024 and June 2026. No individual case details are disclosed.
Our aim is to shed light on an issue that often remains in the shadows, to spark a conversation about the mental health needs of the Indian diaspora and to offer pathways for NRIs to seek the support they need, no matter where in the world they may be.
The image of the successful NRI, the high-flying professional, the accomplished entrepreneur, the academic luminary, is a source of great pride for India. But it can also be a source of great pressure for NRIs themselves. The expectation to excel, to represent the best of India on a global stage, can come at a heavy mental cost.
A 2022 study by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) found that NRIs are 2.5 times more likely to experience depression compared to resident Indians. The study attributed this higher risk to a combination of acculturative stress, social isolation and the pressure to succeed in highly competitive environments.
This pressure is particularly acute in certain professions. A 2024 survey by the American Medical Association found that Indian-origin doctors in the US had the highest rates of burnout (48%) among all ethnic groups. Similar trends have been observed in the IT industry, where the "techie NRI" stereotype masks a reality of long hours, intense deadlines and chronic stress.
But it's not just the high-achievers who are struggling. The NIMHANS study also found elevated rates of anxiety and depression among NRI students (30%), homemakers (28%) and elderly dependents (40%), groups whose mental health needs often get overshadowed by the focus on professional success.
These findings are mirrored in Veda's own data. Over the past two years, we've seen a 60% increase in enquiries from NRIs and their families seeking mental health support. The most common concerns? Work stress, relationship issues and a sense of disconnection from both their adopted country and their roots back home.
Alcohol use is deeply embedded in many of the cultures that NRIs find themselves in — from the after-work drinking scene in the US and UK to the wine-with-every-meal norm in much of Europe. For NRIs coming from more conservative backgrounds, this easy access to alcohol can be a double-edged sword, a symbol of freedom and assimilation but also a slippery slope into problematic use.
A 2023 study by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) found that NRIs have a 50% higher risk of developing alcohol use disorder compared to resident Indians. The study cited factors like work stress, social isolation, and the pressure to fit into drinking-centric corporate cultures as key contributors to this higher risk.
But while alcohol use may be more socially accepted in many NRI contexts, seeking treatment for alcohol addiction comes with its own set of cultural barriers. The stigma around addiction is often even stronger in NRI communities, where the pressure to project an image of success and stability is immense.
This stigma can delay treatment-seeking until a crisis point is reached. Veda's data reflects this trend: among NRIs who reached out to us for alcohol addiction treatment in the past two years, 70% had been struggling with problematic drinking for over 5 years before seeking help. And in 80% of these cases, it was a family member not the individual themselves, who made the first contact.
Similar patterns emerge with other substance use disorders. While the prevalence of drug addiction is lower among NRIs compared to alcohol, the treatment gaps are even wider. NRIs face unique barriers in accessing culturally competent addiction services, navigating foreign health systems and finding support networks that understand their specific challenges.
For many NRIs struggling with mental health issues or addiction, the decision to seek treatment is often intertwined with the decision to return to India, either temporarily or permanently. This "reluctant returnee" phenomenon is a complex one, shaped by a mix of cultural, logistical and emotional factors.
On one hand, coming back to India for treatment can offer a sense of familiarity, family support and access to more affordable care. India's mental health treatment costs are a fraction of those in the US or Europe, making it an attractive option for NRIs who may have limited insurance coverage or financial resources.
But on the other hand, returning to India for treatment also means confronting the very pressures and expectations that many NRIs sought to escape in the first place. It can feel like an admission of failure, a betrayal of the NRI success story. For some, the fear of social judgment and career repercussions can be paralyzing.
Veda's experience with NRI clients reflects these complex dynamics. Among the NRIs who reached out to us for in-person treatment in India over the past two years, 60% said they had considered seeking help in their country of residence first, but were held back by concerns about confidentiality, cultural misunderstandings or the perceived lack of India-specific expertise.
At the same time, many expressed ambivalences about returning to India, worrying that it would disrupt their lives, careers and support systems abroad. For some, the decision to come back was a last resort, driven by a crisis or intervention from concerned family members.
Addressing the mental health and addiction treatment needs of NRIs will require a multi-pronged approach, one that combines increased awareness, culturally competent care and innovative delivery models that transcend geographic boundaries. Some key strategies:
1. Normalizing help-seeking: NRI community organizations, cultural associations, and media platforms must play a proactive role in destigmatizing mental health issues and encouraging early intervention. Hearing from successful NRIs who have openly sought help can be a powerful normalizing force.
2. Building NRI-specific expertise: Mental health professionals in India and abroad need specialized training to understand the unique cultural, social and systemic factors that shape NRI mental health. This includes developing competencies in areas like acculturative stress, identity conflicts and the challenges of repatriation.
3. Expanding virtual care: Tele-mental health and online addiction support services can be a lifeline for NRIs who face barriers to in-person care. India's recent strides in telemedicine regulations and digital health infrastructure must be leveraged to create NRI-friendly virtual treatment options.
4. Collaborating across borders: Indian mental health providers need to build partnerships with diaspora organizations, cultural associations and healthcare systems in key NRI hubs abroad. These collaborations can help bridge the cultural and systemic divides that NRIs face when seeking care.
5. Reframing the success narrative: The NRI community must redefine what success looks like, to include not just professional achievements but also personal well-being and the courage to seek help. Celebrating NRIs who prioritize their mental health can help shift cultural norms.
At Veda, we are committed to being part of this solution. Over the coming year, we plan to launch NRI-specific virtual mental health and addiction treatment programs, staffed by culturally trained professionals and accessible from anywhere in the world. We are also partnering with NRI organizations in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and the Middle East to build referral networks and joint awareness campaigns.
But we know that the challenges facing NRI mental health are too complex for any one organization to solve alone. It will take a collective effort — from policymakers, healthcare providers, diaspora groups and the NRI community itself — to create a culture of openness, empathy and support.
The invisibility of NRI mental health struggles is not inevitable. By shining a light on these issues, by creating culturally resonant solutions, and by empowering NRIs to seek help on their own terms, we can begin to replace the silence with the language of healing. That is the commitment we must make — to ensure that no NRI ever has to struggle alone.
Methodology Note: This report integrates data from: the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) NRI Mental Health Study 2022, the American Medical Association Physician Burnout Survey 2024, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) NRI Alcohol Use Study 2023 and anonymised aggregate enquiry data from Veda Rehabilitation & Wellness' international helplines and virtual consultation services (July 2024 - June 2026). No individual case details are disclosed. All Veda data points represent broad aggregate trends only.
About Veda: Veda Rehabilitation & Wellness is India's leading provider of evidence-based mental health and addiction treatment services, with a growing global presence. Our multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and behavioral health specialists design personalized treatment programs that combine the latest research with a deep understanding of the cultural contexts that shape mental health. Learn more at www.vedawellnessworld.com
This report draws on the following peer-reviewed studies, surveys, and anonymised proprietary data.
No individual personal health information or case details are disclosed.
1. National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) NRI Mental Health Study 2022
2. All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) NRI Alcohol Use Study 2023
3. American Medical Association (AMA) Physician Burnout Survey 2024
4. “Acculturation, Social Connectedness, and Mental Health among Overseas Indians”
5. “Alcohol Use among South Asian Populations in the United States: A Scoping Review”
6. “Utilization of Mental Health Services by Asian Indian Americans: Results from the National Latino and Asian American Study”
7. “Population of Overseas Indians”
8. “Report of the High Level Committee on Indian Diaspora”
9. Veda Rehabilitation & Wellness NRI Enquiry Data, July 2024 – June 2026
For media enquiries, research partnerships, or further information on Veda’s NRI mental health initiatives, please email at contact@vedawellnessworld.com
© Veda Rehabilitation & Wellness, 2026. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without express written permission.