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Business Standard
05-05-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
Behind the filter: Misha Agrawal's death sparks mental health wake-up call
Influencer Misha Agrawal's death has triggered a national reckoning on how online validation, social media pressures, and mental health intersect in the lives of Indian youth and influencers New Delhi It looked like she had it all: fame, fashion, fans, and a feed full of comedy sketches and social commentary. But behind the curated posts, 24-year-old Misha Agrawal, founder of Mish Cosmetics and a prominent social media personality with about 360,000 Instagram followers, was silently struggling. Her death by suicide in late April, just two days before her 25th birthday, has left her followers stunned and asking the question that netizens have avoided for too long: Are we truly okay behind our screens? Online popularity vs real-world validation: A dangerous confusion For followers, the news of Misha's death hit like a punch in the gut. She wasn't just another Instagram personality, she was a face people saw every day, someone whose content was relatable and brought smiles, and whose reels inspired and challenged the traditional norms of society. According to her sister, she had been battling depression, which was exacerbated by a decline in her follower count, a metric she closely associated with her self-worth and career aspirations. Despite holding a law degree and preparing for a judicial career, Misha was deeply invested in achieving the milestone of one million followers, even setting it as her phone's wallpaper. Her sister shared a message on Instagram, urging others to recognise that online popularity does not equate to real love or value. Misha's sister recalled how, starting in April, she became 'deeply depressed' and often expressed concern about the potential to lose followers and how that could impact her career. 'I tried to console her, explaining that this isn't her entire world, it's just a side job, and if it doesn't work out, it's not the end,' the post continued. Psychiatrist Dr Tonmoy Sharma, CEO of Merlin Health, a Gurugram-based mental health treatment centre, calls her passing 'a national alarm bell.' In his words, 'It's a reminder that in a hyperconnected world, emotional well-being cannot remain an afterthought.' It's easy to miss the signs when someone is on camera, but the red flags are often there. Dr Jyoti Kapoor, Senior Psychiatrist and Founder of Manasthali, explains, 'Early signs of depression include withdrawal, irritability, or losing interest in things they once loved. Many even start posting existential content or dark memes online, subtle cries for help that we often ignore.' Dr Trideep Choudhury from Fortis Healthcare breaks it down further, 'Depression is more than sadness. It alters sleep, appetite, energy levels, and even basic motivation. If suicidal thoughts emerge, that's a psychiatric emergency.' And yet, how many of us truly listen when someone's light dims, even a little? The emotional toll of being an influencer in India Being an influencer may seem glamorous, but as Misha's story reveals, the pressure behind the scenes is relentless. 'It's a lonely profession,' says Dr Kapoor. 'You're not just competing locally, it's global. You're chasing algorithms, reacting to criticism in real-time, and constantly putting yourself out there.' The world of social media thrives on instant feedback. But this comes at a cost. Dr Trideep warns, 'Instant gratification through likes and comments can become addictive. When those numbers drop, it can feel like instant invalidation. For those who tie their self-worth to this feedback, the emotional impact can be devastating.' Why social media platforms aren't built for mental health support Social platforms weren't built to care for your mental health, they were built to keep you scrolling. 'Social media is commercial,' says Dr Kapoor. 'It promotes content, not creators. Mental health isn't its job, so creators must look out for themselves.' This is why experts insist on setting boundaries, time-limited use, honest content, real-life connections, and offline validation. 'We need to disconnect to reconnect, with ourselves and with people who matter,' says Dr Kersi Chavda, Psychiatry Consultant at P. D. Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre. Mental health infrastructure in India still far behind While Misha's death has sparked national conversations, India's mental health discourse is still behind, and the infrastructure is still woefully inadequate. As Dr Trideep points out, depression is often misunderstood as weakness, and seeking help is still stigmatised. 'Families can be the first line of defence, but they need awareness, not judgment,' he says. Dr Kapoor adds that trained professionals are unevenly distributed, mostly in urban centres, while rural and semi-urban India remains neglected. Even well-intentioned government initiatives like Tele-MANAS (Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States) or National Mental Health Program (NMHP) lack consistent execution. 'Therapy is seen as a luxury,' says Dr Chavda. 'Schools rarely have counsellors. And worse, people confuse Googled advice with professional care.' What can families, schools, and audiences do next? For starters, talk. Listen. And don't assume a smile means someone is fine. 'Ask the hard questions,' says Dr Sharma. 'Not just to friends who seem sad, but to those who seem perfectly fine too.' Experts say that parents need to create an emotionally safe home, schools should treat mental wellness with the same seriousness as academics, and influencers must be encouraged to be authentic, not perfect. Let Misha's story be a turning point for India's mental health narrative Misha's death should not be in vain. Doctors urge her followers to make it the turning point, for influencers, for families, for schools, and for society at large. Let it be the reason we pause before we scroll past someone's cry for help. Because, behind every curated feed, there could be a very real cry for connection.
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Popular influencer's cause of death revealed after shock passing two days before her 25th birthday
A popular social media influencer's cause of death has been revealed following her passing just two days before her 25th birthday. Misha Agrawal the founder of Mish Cosmetics passed away on Thursday, April 24. A notification of her death on her Instagram page revealed the heartache of her loss. Agrawal's sister released a statement on Instagram Tuesday, confirming she died by suicide after feeling 'worthless' over not reaching 1million followers. She wrote: 'My little baby sister had built her world around Instagram and her followers, with a single goal of reaching 1 million followers and gaining loving fans. 'When her followers started decreasing, she became distraught and felt worthless. Since April, she had been deeply depressed, often hugging me and crying, saying…'what will I do If my followers decrease? My career will be over.' 'I tried to console her, explaining that this isn't her entire world, It's just a side job, and if it doesn't work out, it's not the end. I reminded her of her talents.' 'I advised her to view Instagram as mere entertainment and not let it consume her. I urged her to focus on her happiness and let go of anxiety and depression. 'Unfortunately, my little sister didn't listen and became so consumed by Instagram and followers that she left our world forever. Tragically, she became so overwhelmed that she took her own life, leaving our family devastated.' The post - showing a doctored image of Misha's Instagram followers to show 1million - was captioned: 'Her Phone wallpaper says everything. 'Her only aim of life. Instagram is not a real world and followers are not real love, please try to understand this.' The star's passing was announced Saturday in a statement which read: 'It is with a heavy heart that we share the heartbreaking news of Misha Agrawal's passing. 'Thank you all for the love and support you showed her and her work. We are still trying to come to terms with this immense loss.' 'Please keep her in your thoughts and continue to carry her spirit in your hearts,' the statement concluded. A similar notification was made by her company on Monday. She wrote: 'My little baby sister had built her world around Instagram and her followers, with a single goal of reaching 1 million followers and gaining loving fans' 'When her followers started decreasing, she became distraught and felt worthless. Since April, she had been deeply depressed, often hugging me and crying, saying…'what will I do If my followers decrease? My career will be over' 'We are heartbroken to share that our founder, Misha Agrawal, has passed away. She built and Mish Hair Oil with love, passion, and a dream to make a difference,' the statement said. After asking for patience as they company tries to fulfill orders, they finished the statement with gratitude and hope for the future. 'Thank you for standing with us, for your endless love, and for believing in Misha's dream. Let's continue to keep her spirit alive — together.' Neither statement revealed the cause of death. Fans were shocked at the news. 'We all deserve to know what happened, it's unbelievable,' wrote one of her 348 thousand followers. 'One of the few content whom I am following from their starting has very good a very good sarcastic feel bad for her.......' grieved one fan. 'Guys I wish she was alive to see how much she was loved , please give her family some time to absorb this. Keep her in ur prayers,' advised another. The social media star was also popular for her content with videos ranging from women's empowerment to being OCD On her social media page, Agrawal, an entrepreneur in India, explained she started the company after dealing with her own hair loss issues. 'Back in 2023 I started losing a lot of hair, And I cant bear losing hair, that's when we curated this entirely organic oil made with natural herbs like fenugreek, bhringraj, shikakai, amla and many more, and in just 7 weeks I could see possible hair growth.' The company sells only one product, Mish Hair Oil, which sells for the equivalent of about $6.00 US. The social media star was also popular for her content with videos ranging from women's empowerment to being OCD.
Newsweek
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Misha Agrawal's Cause of Death Revealed
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Misha Agrawal, an influencer in India, died two days before her 25th birthday. Her sister confirmed her cause of death via social media, that Misha had taken her own life. The Context Agrawal was an entrepreneur and influencer, who had 359,000 followers on Instagram and an additional 239,000 followers on Facebook. She also sold hair care oil through her cosmetics brand called Mish Cosmetics. The 24-year-old's YouTube channel, The Misha Agrawal Show, had over 21,600 subscribers and 188 videos. Her YouTube bio read: "Spoofs, vines, roasts and everything nice." Misha Agrawal is pictured at the Sunburn Festival, an electronic dance music festival in India, in an image dated December 10, 2023. Misha Agrawal is pictured at the Sunburn Festival, an electronic dance music festival in India, in an image dated December 10, 2023. Misha Agrawal/Instagram What To Know Agrawal died on Thursday, April 24, and would have celebrated turning 25 on April 26. On Wednesday, Agrawal's sister shared an update on her death, revealing that the social media star had a goal of "reaching 1 million followers" on Instagram. "When her followers started decreasing, she became distraught and felt worthless. Since April, she had been deeply depressed," her sibling said. "I tried to console her, explaining that this isn't her entire world, it's just a side job, and if it doesn't work out, it's not the end." Agrawal had a law degree with hopes of one day becoming a judge, and her sister advised her "to view Instagram as mere entertainment and not let it consume her." "I urged her to focus on her happiness and let go of anxiety and depression," she said. "Unfortunately, my little sister didn't listen and became so consumed by Instagram and followers that she left our world forever. Tragically, she became so overwhelmed that she took her own life, leaving our family devastated." Agrawal's death was initially announced last week in a statement posted to her Instagram: "It is with a heavy heart that we share the heartbreaking news of Misha Agrawal's passing. Thank you all for the love and support you showed her and her work. We are still trying to come to terms with this immense loss. Please keep her in your thoughts and continue to carry her spirit in your hearts." Mish Cosmetics also released a statement via Instagram: "We are heartbroken to share that our founder, Misha Agrawal, has passed away. She built and Mish Hair Oil with love, passion, and a dream to make a difference," they wrote. "As we navigate through this difficult time, we kindly ask for your patience with our orders. We promise—everything will be processed and delivered soon." What People Are Saying Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu reacted to Agrawal's death in a note shared to her Instagram Story. Indian newspaper Times of India captured her message in a screenshot: "This is something I long feared seeing the obsession of a lot of people around. Fear that a day will come the numbers here will overpower the love to live. Fear that the desperate need of virtual love will blind u toward the real love around you. And this instant gratification and validation of likes n comments will overtake the degrees which make u worth much more. It's heartbreaking to see this." Harjas Sethi, a content creator featured in "India's Top 100 Digital Stars 2024" list on Forbes India, wrote in a comment via Instagram: "I spoke to her many times, she truly believed in herself and was headstrong and confident. She knew she would achieve this number. This seems like a cover, she seems to be going through something on her personal front. The family should probe further, I saw some of her close stories in the past and it seems like she was affected by her emotions due to a person. This is so devastating." If you or someone you know is considering suicide, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "988" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to
Mint
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Misha Agarwal death: Taapsee Pannu heartbroken as content creator dies by suicide over losing followers online
Popular content creator Misha Agarwal died last month leaving many on the internet shocked. While her family did not initially reveal the cause of her death, recently her elder sister, Mukta Agrawal, shared that she was upset after losing her follower count on Instagram. Sharing a screenshot of Misha's wallpaper, Mukta revealed that the late creator aimed to hit the 1 million mark. Mukta wrote, 'Her phone wallpaper says everything. Her only aim of life.' She added, "My little baby sister had built her world around Instagram and her followers, with a single goal of reaching 1 million followers and gaining loving fans. When her followers started decreasing, she became distraught and felt worthless. Since April, she had been deeply depressed, often hugging me and crying, saying, 'Jijja, what will I do if my followers decrease? My career will be over." Her note added, 'I reminded her of her talents, her LLB degree, and her preparation for PCSJ, telling her that she'll become a judge one day and doesn't need to worry about her career." 'I urged her to let go of anxiety and depression. Unfortunately, my little sister didn't listen and became so consumed by Instagram and followers that she left our world forever. Tragically, she became so overwhelmed that she took her own life, leaving our family devastated,' she revealed Misha died by suicide. Reacting to the news, Bollywood actor Taapsee Pannu wrote on Instagram, "This is something I long feared seeing the obsession of a lot of people around. Fear that a day will come the numbers here will overpower the love to live'. The heartbroken Dunki actor also said, "Fear that the desperate need of virtual love will blind u towards the real love around you. And this instant gratification and validation of likes n comments will overtake the degrees which make u worth much more. It's heartbreaking to see this." Misha was 24. She died 2 days before turning 25. Her family shared the news of her death via a statement: 'Our loss is unimaginable. We have no words.' Misha also had a brand, Mish Cosmetics under her. First Published: 1 May 2025, 04:31 PM IST
NDTV
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Influencer Misha Agrawal Died By Suicide Days Before Her 25th Birthday, Family Confirms
Social media influencer and cosmetics brand founder Misha Agrawal died by suicide just two days before her 25th birthday, her family has confirmed. Six days after her death, Misha's sister took to Instagram to share an emotional post about the young influencer's mental health struggles. "Her phone wallpaper says everything. Her only aim of life," she wrote, referring to Misha's dream of reaching one million Instagram followers. At the time of her death, Misha had over 3.5 lakh followers. The family said Misha became deeply depressed after seeing a drop in her followers. "She built her world around Instagram and her followers. When they started decreasing, she felt worthless," her sister shared. Despite her family's efforts to reassure her and remind her of her other achievements - including a law degree and judicial studies - Misha reportedly struggled to separate her self-worth from her online presence. "Instagram is not real life and followers are not real love. Please try to understand this," her sister urged in her post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Misha Agrawal (@themishaagrawalshow) The initial announcement of Misha's death came on April 26, the day she would have turned 25. "We are still trying to come to terms with this immense loss," the family said in a statement shared on her social media accounts. Misha, who also ran a cosmetics business called Mish Cosmetics, was known for promoting hair care products and beauty tips on her platform. Her brand page also confirmed her passing and assured customers that pending orders would still be fulfilled.
