Psychiatry in India is steadily progressing, driven by increasing awareness of mental health. However, the country faces a significant shortage of psychiatrists, with only 0.75 professionals per lakh population well below global standards. To bridge this gap, training programs are expanding, services are being integrated into schools and primary care, and digital platforms and organizations are promoting access, education, and reforms.

Amidst this evolving landscape, dedicated mental health professionals such as Dr Varun Jaitpal are playing a crucial role in driving change and raising awareness. From the early days of his medical journey, Dr Varun Jaitpal, a psychiatrist and certified sexologist was drawn to the often-overlooked subject of mental health. He completed his MBBS in 2019, followed by a psychiatry residency in Nagpur, and later earned a certification in sexual wellness. He observed that mental health remains a taboo topic across both urban and rural settings. During his internship, the repeated refusal of patients’ families to seek psychiatric help made him realize the depth of the stigma. Even medical peers hesitated to seek support. These experiences inspired him to pursue psychiatry and advocate for greater mental health awareness.

A New Chapter in Mental Healthcare

Building on his passion for mental health, Dr Varun Jaitpal focuses on sexual wellness, depression, anxiety, and deaddiction. As a trained sexologist, he encourages open conversations and uses empathetic listening to uncover root causes. He co-creates treatment plans, emphasizing mutual trust for meaningful progress between doctor and patient.

To strengthen his efforts in promoting mental health awareness, Dr Varun Jaitpal highlights one of the major challenges in the field the widespread myth that psychiatric medications do more harm than good. Through his Instagram channel (yourshrinkdrvarun), and YouTube channel (Your Shrink Dr Varun), he creates a safe space for awareness, support, and stigma-free help.

Drawing from his experience in fast-paced Mumbai, Dr Varun Jaitpal notes that most patients want quick outcomes. He says that it is always important to set realistic expectations and this is because doctors cannot be magicians. Recovery is a process that requires time, which is significant in chronic cases.

He believes adherence and consistency are vital for lasting recovery. Dr Varun Jaitpal, says, “Holistic care is essential. Every illness must be viewed from multiple perspectives, just like the multiple cameras in the Big Boss house each capturing something different. Psychiatric conditions like depression require

medication for short-term relief and treatment for long-term cognitive change.

It’s important to have psychotherapists, physicians to manage comorbidities, and occupational therapists for rehabilitation. Mutual trust and collaboration among all team members are key to ensuring complete and effective patient care”.

Continuing his patient-centric approach, Dr Varun Jaitpal sees technology and artificial intelligence as the key to filling healthcare gaps. He feels that telemedicine is the future since the ratio of doctors to patients is highly skewed in India. He supports government initiatives like Tele-MANAS and offers video consultations after verifying patient identity. Although he prefers in-person sessions for building rapport, he values the accessibility that digital care provides. Dr Varun Jaitpal also sees great promise in AI-driven chatbots for immediate assistance and hopes to integrate them into his clinical setup soon.

Dr Varun Jaitpal is driven by the belief that mental health care should be accessible, stigma-free, and grounded in empathy for every individual

The Compassionate Practice of Modern Psychiatry

Reflecting on his practice, Dr Varun Jaitpal recalls a particularly impactful case from two or three years ago. A top-ranking student, after securing admission to a prestigious engineering college, began struggling both academically and emotionally. The pressure of intense competition led to severe depression and suicidal thoughts. His sister, having seen Dr Varun Jaitpal’s videos, reached out for help.

The boy’s parents, unaware of his condition, were unintentionally making matters worse. Dr Varun Jaitpal treated both the patient and his family, guiding them with empathy. With proper treatment and support, the young man recovered, secured his dream job, and later returned to express heartfelt gratitude.

Dr Varun Jaitpal emphasizes, “Balancing professional and personal well-being is essential. With the increasing patient load and the fast pace of life, I can only help others if I am well myself. Traveling with family, enjoying daily dinners, or playing sports like football, cricket, or running helps refresh my mind. These moments of reflection allow me to grow both personally and professionally. They enable me to be a more empathetic and composed listener, which is crucial when I’m sitting across from a patient”.

Continuing his journey of compassion and clinical excellence, Dr Varun Jaitpal believes that while awards carry prestige, the true reward lies in seeing a patient recover and thrive. For his family, accolades are a proud affirmation of his hard work, but for him, heartfelt patient reviews mean even more. He values small gestures, like timely responses, knowing they make a difference. Among his honors are the H.G. Bhave Gold Medal for excellence in psychiatry during residency and the I.K. Mujawar Award (2022) for Best Poster Presentation in the West Zone recognitions that reflect both his academic rigor and empathetic care.

Looking Ahead

Envisioning the future of mental healthcare, Dr Varun Jaitpal positions himself as a forward-thinking psychiatrist committed to providing a safe, non-judgmental supportive system. He believes that the mental illness must shed its stigma and ridicule. His mission is to ensure that care is accessible and affordable for everyone, regardless of economic, social and cultural background. Emphasizing that mental health is a necessity, not a choice, he advocates preventive care, self-awareness, and compassion to build a society where healing is normalized.

Awards & Recognition:

•H.G. Bhave Gold Medal(2023)– For highest marks in Psychiatry(MD).
•I.K. Mujawar Award(2022)– Best Poster Presentation on schizophrenia at IPS-WZB Conference.
•Held leadership roles as General Secretary(RGMC)and Mess Committee President(NKPSIMS).

Publications

•Six international journal publications focused on schizophrenia, mood disorders, and evidence-based psychiatry.