Lok Sabha Question No. 3591 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: Mental Health
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: PREM DAS RAI, ANURAG SINGH THAKUR

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3591 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 TH MARCH, 2018

## MENTAL HEALTH

## 3591. SHRI PREM DAS RAI: SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR:

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

(a) the number of people suffering from depression and other mental illness along with the related casualties reported during each of the last three years and the curren  year, State/UT -w ise;

(b) whether the Government has conducted or proposes to conduct any stud /survey in this regard, if so, the details and the outcome thereof;

(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government for prevention, control, treatment and rehabilitation  of mental  disorders  along  with  the  funds allocated  and  utilized  for  the purposeduring the said period, State/UT - wise;

(d)  the  action  plan  drawn  by  the Government  to  scale  up  manpower  and infrastructure including to meet the shortage of mental healthcare professionals and institutes/hospitals in the country, State/ UT - wise; and

(e) whether the Government proposes to launch any scheme for mental health workers and cover mental illness under any Centrally sponsored insurance scheme and ifso, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL )

(a) & (b): The number  of  people  suffering  from  depression  and  other  mental  illness along with the related casualties is not maintained centrally. However, the Government had undertaken a National Mental Health Survey through the National Institute of Mental He and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore in 12 States of the country. As per the surve report  released  on  26 th December,  2016,  the  prevalence  of  mental  disorders  including common mental disorders, severe mental disorders, and alcohol and substance use disord (excluding tobacco use disorder) in adults over the age of 18  years is about 10.6% major findings of the survey are as under:

- The prevalence of mental morbidity is high in urban metropolitan areas.
- Mental disorders are closely linked to both causation and consequences of several non- communicable disorders (NCD).
- Nearly  1  in  40  and 1  in  20  persons suffer  from  past  and  current  depression, respectively.
- Neurosis and stress related disorders affect 3.5% of the population and was repo to be higher among females (nearly twice as much in males).
- Data indicate that 0.9 % of the survey population were at high risk of suicide.
- Nearly  50%  of  persons  with  major  depressive  disorders  reported  difficulties carrying out their daily activities.

(c)& (d): The  Government  of  India  is  implementing  the  District  Mental  Health programme (DMHP) under the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) in 517 districts of the country with the objectives to:

- (i) Provide  mental  health  services  including  prevention,  promotion  and  longter continuing care at different levels of district healthcare delivery system.
- (ii) Augment institutional capacity in terms of infrastructure, equipment and hum resource for mental healthcare.
- (iii) Promote  community  awareness  and  participation  in  the  delivery  of  mental healthcare services.
- (iv) Broad- base mental health into other related programs.

To address the acute shortage of qualified mental health professionals in the count the  Government,  under  NMHP,  is  implementing  manpower  development  schemes  for establishment of Centres of Excellence and strengthening/ establishment of Post Grad (PG)  Departments  in  mental  health  specialties.  Till  date,  support  has  been  provide establishment  of  25  Centres  of  Excellence  and  strengthening/  establishment  of  47  P Graduate (PG) Departments in mental health specialties in the country.

(e): The Government does not have any specific scheme for mental health workers or f providing insurance cover to persons with mental illness.