SRINAGAR: The Government of India said it has made significant strides in improving mental health care across the country, with a focus on providing comprehensive services under the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP).
As mental health issues continue to affect a substantial portion of the population, including the elderly, the government has rolled out several initiatives to ensure accessible and quality care.
According to the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) conducted in 2016, 15.1 per cent of elderly Indians above the age of 60 suffer from mental disorders. To address this, the NMHP has been expanded to 767 districts, integrating mental health services at the grassroots level through the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP). Services under the DMHP include outpatient care, counselling, psychosocial interventions, medications, and in-patient facilities with ten beds at district hospitals.
In addition, the government has implemented the National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE), which offers specialised geriatric services. These include setting up geriatric wards, rehabilitation units, and clinics at various levels of the healthcare system, along with educational campaigns to promote a healthy lifestyle for seniors.
Mental health care has been further integrated into primary healthcare through the Ayushman Bharat initiative. Over 1.73 lakh Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) have been upgraded to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, where mental health services are part of the Comprehensive Primary Health Care package. Operational guidelines have also been introduced for managing mental, neurological, and substance use disorders at these centres.
The government’s commitment to mental health extends to increasing infrastructure and human resources. There are 47 government-run mental hospitals, including three premier institutions—NIMHANS in Bengaluru, the Central Institute of Psychiatry in Ranchi, and the Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health in Tezpur—offering a combined total of over 2,000 psychiatric beds. Efforts have also been made to enhance the number of trained mental health professionals through 25 Centres of Excellence and the strengthening of postgraduate departments in mental health specialities at 19 medical colleges.
Recognising the challenges in accessing mental health care, particularly in remote areas, the government launched the National Tele Mental Health Programme in 2022. This initiative provides tele-mental health services through 53 Tele-MANAS Cells operating in 36 States and Union Territories. The helpline has received more than 1.5 million calls as of November 2024. Further extending its reach, the Tele MANAS Mobile Application was introduced on World Mental Health Day this year, offering support for issues ranging from general well-being to complex mental disorders.
While challenges remain, particularly in the availability of psychiatrists—ranging from as low as 0.05 per lakh population in Madhya Pradesh to 1.2 per lakh in Kerala—the government’s multipronged approach reflects its commitment to improving mental health care access and quality in India. With ongoing initiatives and technological interventions, the National Mental Health Policy launched in 2014 continues to evolve to meet the country’s needs.
