Lok Sabha Question No. 665 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-18
Subject: Study on Mental Disorder/Illness
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: BALASUBRAMANIAM SENGUTTUVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 665 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH NOVEMBER, 2016

## STUDY ON MENTAL DISO RDER/ILLNESS

## 665. SHRI B. SENGUTTUVAN:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken cognizance  of  the  study  conducted  by  the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences that about 13.7 per cent of the Indian population is actually suffering from mental disorder in one form or other;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(c) whether the Government has noticed the findings in the said study that about 60 per cent of the mentally ill persons is not treated for their mental illness due to lack of resources for fear of beingstigmatised, if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the corrective measures taken by the Government to tackle the situation?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL )

(a) & (b): National  Institute  of  Mental  Health  and  Neurosciences,  Bangalore  conducte National Mental Health Survey in 12 States of India viz. Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Guj arat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Manipur a Assam.  The  study  documented  the  mental  health  system  in  each  of  these  States,  name availability of mental health services, hospitals, professionals , medicines and other resources. The summary report of the Survey was released on 10 th October, 2016. As per the report, the current  prevalence  of  mental  disorders  including  common  mental  disorders,  severe  men disorders, and alcohol and substance use di sorders (excluding tobacco  use disorder) in adults over the age of 18 years is about 10.6%.

Based on the report, the States are expected to develop an action plan for the N Mental Health Programme.

(c): As per the report, about 60 to 85% of person s with mental disorders are not getting the required treatment for their mental illness. This is due to non availability of treatme near their homes, non - availability of Psychiatrists and mental health professionals or medic lack of aware ness of their illness and stigma of having a mental disorder.

(d): To address the burden of mental disorders, the Government of India is implementing National  Mental  Health  Programme  (NMHP)  and  the  District  Mental  Health  Programme (DMHP).  Funds  ha ve  been  released  for  339  districts  in  the  country  under  the  DMHP  fo detection, management and treatment of mental disorders/ illness. With the objective to the  shortage  of  mental  health  professionals  in  the  country,  establishment  of  18  Cen Excellence  in  Mental  Health  and  strengthening/  establishment  of  39  Post  Graduate  tra departments in mental health specialties have been funded to increase the PG training cap mental health as well as improving the tertiary care treatment facil ity.  Besides,  three  Central Institutions viz. National Institute of Mental Health And Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, Lok Gopinath  Bordoloi  Regional  Institute  of  Mental  Health,  Tezpur  and  Central  Institut Psychiatry, Ranchi have been strengthened for augmenting the human resources in the area of mental  health  and  for  capacity  building  in  the  country.  During  the  12th  Five  Year  Pla DMHP has been restructured to include additional components like suicide prevention serv work  place  stress  manage ment,  life  skills  training  and  counselling  in  schools  and  colle Support is also provided for Central/ State Mental Health Authorities, Research and Train Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities.