Mental Health Latest News
- The Economic Survey recently flagged a worrying rise in digital addiction and screen-related mental health issues, especially among children and adolescents.
- Responding to these concerns, the February 1 Union Budget announced steps to strengthen India’s mental health infrastructure.
- Key measures include the proposal to set up a second National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) in north India, alongside plans to upgrade premier mental health institutions in Ranchi and Tezpur.
- These steps aim to improve regional access, reduce pressure on existing facilities, and expand specialised mental healthcare services across the country.
India’s Mental Health Burden: Scale and Severity
- Experts warn that India is facing a serious mental health crisis.
- The country accounts for nearly one-third of global cases of suicide, depression, and addiction, making mental health a major public health challenge.
High Suicide Burden Among Youth
- Data from the National Crime Records Bureau and the Sample Registration System under the Ministry of Home Affairs show that:
- Suicide is among the leading causes of death for Indians aged 15–29 years.
- Young people are particularly vulnerable due to academic pressure, unemployment, social stress, and digital addiction
Economic Cost of Mental Illness
- According to the World Health Organization (WHO):
- India is expected to lose $1.03 trillion between 2012 and 2030 due to mental health conditions.
- Losses stem from reduced productivity, healthcare costs, and premature mortality.
Large Treatment Gap
- A major concern is the treatment gap: 70%–92% of people with mental disorders do not receive proper care.
- Key reasons include: Lack of awareness; Social stigma; Severe shortage of trained mental health professionals.
Shortage of Mental Health Professionals
- As per the Indian Journal of Psychiatry:
- India has 0.75 psychiatrists per 1,00,000 people
- The WHO recommends at least 3 psychiatrists per 1,00,000
- This gap severely limits access to diagnosis, counselling, and treatment.
Low Budgetary Priority
- Although overall health spending has increased since FY2014–15, mental health has received: Only about 1% of the total health budget.
- Limited funding has constrained infrastructure, manpower, and outreach services
Mental Health Infrastructure in India: Expanding Access Beyond Hospitals
- To meet the rising demand for mental health services, the government has integrated mental healthcare into primary healthcare under Ayushman Bharat.
- Mental health services are now part of the Comprehensive Primary Health Care package delivered through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Health and Wellness Centres).
- Over 1.73 lakh sub-health centres and primary health centres have been upgraded into Ayushman Arogya Mandirs
- These centres provide basic mental health screening, counselling, and referrals, reducing dependence on specialised hospitals
Strengthening Specialist Capacity
- To address the shortage of trained professionals, the government has expanded education and training infrastructure:
- Over 20 Centres of Excellence sanctioned for postgraduate training in mental health
- 47 postgraduate departments in mental health established nationwide
- These initiatives aim to increase the availability of psychiatrists, psychologists, and mental health specialists, especially in underserved regions.
Tele-Mental Health Support: Tele MANAS
- India has complemented physical infrastructure with digital outreach through Tele MANAS (Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States):
- 24×7 free mental health support via helplines 14416 or 1-800-891-4416
- Launched on October 10, 2022
- 53 operational cells across 36 States and Union Territories
- Backed by 23 specialised mentoring institutes
- Tele MANAS bridges access gaps, especially for people in remote areas or those hesitant to seek in-person care.
Where Does India Fall Short on Mental Health Funding
- India’s mental health budget has increased from ₹683 crore in 2020–21 to about ₹1,898 crore in 2024–25.
- However, experts argue that this rise masks a deeper problem of chronic underinvestment.
- The allocation remains below 2% of the total health budget, which itself is only around 2% of India’s GDP—far short of what the scale of the mental health burden demands.
Mismatch Between Spending and Need
- The underinvestment becomes stark when weighed against:
- India’s high suicide and depression burden
- Massive treatment gaps
- Economic losses due to untreated mental illness
- Despite these realities, mental health continues to receive low fiscal priority.
Overemphasis on Tertiary Institutions
- A major concern is where the money goes. A significant portion of allocations continues to be directed toward tertiary institutions such as NIMHANS and newly established centres of excellence.
- While important, experts argue that:
- Tertiary institutions alone cannot mainstream mental healthcare in a country of India’s size
- They serve a limited population and are often concentrated in urban areas
- They stress the need for targeted funding for grassroots mental health programmes, including:
- Community-based services
- Early intervention models
- Preventive and promotive mental healthcare
- Such approaches are more effective in reaching underserved populations and reducing long-term disease burden.
Utilisation Gap Compounds the Problem
- Beyond low allocations, there is also a utilisation issue:
- Funds earmarked for mental health are not fully utilised at the national level
- Administrative bottlenecks and lack of local capacity hinder effective spending
- Health experts argue that better utilisation requires decentralised planning and community-led models, not just increased funding.
The Way Ahead: Shifting to Preventive and Community-Based Mental Healthcare
- India urgently needs affordable access, continuity of care, and timely treatment to prevent avoidable deaths and disability from mental illness.
- Experts highlight an over-reliance on specialist-led, tertiary care, severe shortages of trained professionals, and a 95% access gap.
- The government is pivoting to a whole-of-community approach, integrating mental well-being into schools and strengthening workplace policies to address stress and burnout—signalling a shift from curative to preventive, community-based care.
Source: TH
Mental Health FAQs
Q1: Why is India’s strategy to tackle the mental health burden urgently needed?
Ans: India’s strategy to tackle the mental health burden is urgent because the country faces high suicide rates, massive treatment gaps, youth vulnerability, and rising digital addiction-related mental health disorders.
Q2: What is the scale of India’s mental health burden?
Ans: India’s strategy to tackle the mental health burden addresses a crisis where India accounts for nearly one-third of global suicide, depression, and addiction cases, with severe economic and social costs.
Q3: How is India expanding mental health infrastructure?
Ans: India’s strategy to tackle the mental health burden includes integrating services into Ayushman Bharat, upgrading 1.73 lakh centres, expanding PG departments, and strengthening tele-mental health through Tele MANAS.
Q4: Where does India’s strategy to tackle the mental health burden fall short?
Ans: India’s strategy to tackle the mental health burden suffers from underfunding, poor fund utilisation, overfocus on tertiary institutions, and inadequate investment in community-based and preventive mental healthcare.
Q5: What is the way forward in India’s strategy to tackle the mental health burden?
Ans: India’s strategy to tackle the mental health burden must prioritise community-based care, early intervention, school and workplace mental health integration, and scaling trained professionals to close the access gap.
