Himalaya Wellness Company Launches Nationwide Stress Awareness Campaign; Stress Test Reveals Women and Young Adults are Most Affected
The initiative reveals how stress manifests differently across age groups, genders, and urban centers
Stress is increasingly being recognized by health experts as a growing public health concern in India, driven by changing work patterns, urbanization, and sustained mental load across age groups. The early signs of stress frequently go unacknowledged until they show up as burnout or chronic health conditions. Addressing this silent but growing concern, Himalaya Wellness Company has launched a nationwide stress awareness campaign anchored by a simple yet insightful Stress Test to help Indians recognize, understand, and validate their stress levels. The initiative recorded responses from more than 65,000 participants across the country and focused on helping individuals reflect on their stress through a short set of questions covering lifestyle, work pressures, and work–life balance.
The simple 10-question self-assessment was designed to bridge this gap, helping people move from dismissing everyday symptoms to acknowledging stress. The assessment categorized responses into low, moderate, and high stress levels. The initiative reflects Himalaya’s science-backed, people-first approach to wellness, focused on awareness and early intervention.
Findings reveal that women report significantly higher stress levels than men, with average stress scores nearly 12% higher. Over 36% of women fall into the very high stress category, compared to 21% of men, pointing to the disproportionate emotional and mental load many women carry. This heightened vulnerability is particularly pronounced among younger adults, with stress most prevalent in the 18–34 age group. A striking proportion of young women in this cohort report very high stress levels—nearly double that of women aged 35 and above—while similar trends among men indicate mounting pressures linked to work demands, relationships, and rising expectations faced by India’s youth.
These stress patterns are further amplified by geography. Respondents from metropolitan cities reported consistently higher stress levels than those from non-metro regions, with Delhi emerging as the most stressed city, followed by Mumbai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad. The findings reflect how fast-paced urban lifestyles, long commutes, and demanding professional environments contribute to sustained mental strain and reduced recovery time.
Across demographics and locations, stress is most often experienced as a persistent mental burden rather than an isolated episode. Overthinking emerged as the most prevalent symptom, reported by more than four-fifths of respondents, alongside recurring feelings of things not going right, burnout, anxiety, and irritability. Notably, women reported a higher incidence of these symptoms than men, including frequent anger, tension headaches, constant exhaustion, and burnout—offering deeper insight into how stress manifests differently across gender and often goes unrecognized until it escalates.
As part of the campaign’s broader focus on stress awareness and management, Himalaya also highlights Ashwagandha, a well-researched adaptogenic herb traditionally used in Ayurveda to help the body cope with stress and restore balance. The herb reflects the brand’s approach of combining scientific research with traditional wisdom in addressing everyday wellness challenges.
Commenting on the campaign, Vikas Bansi, Business Director–OTX Division, Himalaya Wellness Company, said, “Stress is no longer episodic; it is shaping daily life and behavior. Early awareness is essential if individuals and institutions are to respond before stress translates into more serious health outcomes. The initiative is designed to help validate everyday experiences of stress that are often dismissed or overlooked. As part of its holistic approach to stress awareness, Himalaya continues to advocate evidence-backed herbal solutions such as Ashwagandha, traditionally known to help the body adapt to stress.”
The initiative contributes to the broader public discourse encouraging conversations around stress and highlighting the need for supportive environments and preventive approaches to mental well-being in India.
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