A viral LinkedIn post by psychology student Anushka Sasi Ramanath has sparked a widespread conversation about mental health stigma after she shared a remark that many people found uncomfortably relatable: someone told her they would rather spend ₹1,500 on shopping than on therapy.

The post, which has gained significant traction across social media and has been widely reported by multiple news outlets, has prompted discussions about why therapy continues to be misunderstood, why many hesitate to invest in mental healthcare, and whether cost, stigma, or both remain the biggest barriers to seeking professional help.

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In her LinkedIn post, Anushka recounted suggesting therapy to someone who responded:

"I'd rather spend ₹1,500 on shopping than spend it on therapy."

She admitted that the comment initially left her questioning the value people place on the profession she hopes to enter. However, after reflecting on the conversation, she concluded that the issue was far deeper than a single person's spending preference.

According to Anushka, many people still do not view therapy as healthcare or as an investment in their long-term well-being. Instead, it is often perceived as an optional expense that can be postponed or avoided altogether.

She argued that people often find it easier to justify spending on clothes, gadgets, food, or entertainment because these purchases provide immediate satisfaction, whereas therapy requires patience and consistent effort before its benefits become apparent.

Why People Delay Therapy

Anushka emphasized that therapy is frequently misunderstood as something meant only for people with severe mental illness rather than a resource that can help individuals manage everyday stress, anxiety, burnout, grief, relationship challenges, or emotional distress.

She also noted that many people believe they should be able to cope with emotional struggles on their own, leading them to postpone seeking professional help until they reach a crisis point.

Mental health experts in the comments have also identified several practical barriers that prevent people from accessing therapy, including affordability, limited availability of services, shortages of trained mental health professionals, fear of judgment, and lack of awareness about when or how to seek help. These challenges can exist alongside social stigma, making mental healthcare difficult to access even for those who recognize they need support.

Reflecting on the incident, Anushka wrote that the comparison between shopping and therapy reveals how society often values visible consumption over emotional healing.

She explained that shopping produces an immediate reward and is socially accepted, whereas therapy demands emotional vulnerability, consistent effort, and time before meaningful progress becomes apparent.

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Sripriya Srikanth, a counselling psychologist commented on the post:

"Therapy is uncomfortable. It makes you sit through difficult stuff that you have pushed under the rug. But a ₹1,500 shopping spree may instead provide instant gratification and happiness for the week. This helped me empathize with even those who choose not to seek therapy."

Rutuja Godbole, Psychology student commented:

"This is so true. So many people often minimise their struggles and end up weighing their emotional well-being against a price tag rather than seeing it as an investment."

The discussion reflects a broader societal question about how mental healthcare is valued. While shopping may provide temporary emotional relief for some people, psychologists say therapy is designed to help individuals understand and address underlying emotional challenges over time, highlighting the ongoing need to reduce stigma and improve access to mental health services.

It is also important to note that while shopping may temporarily improve someone's mood, it is not a substitute for professional mental healthcare when a person is experiencing persistent emotional distress or symptoms of a mental health condition. Mental health professionals encourage individuals facing ongoing psychological difficulties to seek appropriate evaluation and support.

1. World Health Organization. Mental health. https://www.who.int/health-topics/mental-health

2. World Health Organization. Mental health: strengthening our response. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response

(Rh/ARC/MSM)