Lok Sabha Question No. 4387 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-19
Subject: Mental Health
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Ritesh Pandey

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4387 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH JULY, 2019

## MENTAL HEALTH

## 4387. SHRI RITESH PANDEY:

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

- (a) the number of psychotherapists, psychiatrists, nurses and social workers per 1,00,000
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to increase these numbers;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to reduce stigma arou nd ental health in the country including in rural areas;
- (d)  the  number  of  State  Mental  Health  Authorities  and  Mental  Health  Review  Boards  fo district or group of the districts in the country;
- (e) the number of States and districts without State Mental Health Authorities and Mental H Review Boards respectively; and
- (f) the steps taken by the Government to ensure compliance of the Mental Health Care Act, by the States and Union Territories?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a): The data regarding number of psychotherapists, psychiatrists, nurses and social wo is not maintained centrally.
- (b): With a view to increase the number of qualified mental health professionals in the country, the Government, under NMHP, is implementing manpower development schemes for establishment of Centres of Excellence and strengthening/ establishment of Post Graduat e (PG) Departments in mental health specialties. Till date, support has been provided for estab of  25  Centres  of  Excellence  and  strengthening/  establishment  of  47  Post  Graduate Departments in mental health specialties in the country. The Gover nment is also augmenting the availability of manpower to deliver mental healthcare services in the underserved areas country through a Digital Academy established at the three Central Mental Health Instit provide  online  training  courses  to  va rious  categories  of  general  healthcare  medical  and  para medical professionals.

Contd……

(c): To address the burden of mental disorders, the Government of India is implementing National Mental Health Programme (NMHP)  since 1982. Under this  Pr ogramme, the Government is supporting implementation of the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) in 655 districts of the country for detection, management and treatment of mental disorders/ by  integrating  mental  healthcare  into  the  general  healt hcare.  At  the  district  level,  funds  are provided  to  each  district  under  the  DMHP  for  sensitization  training  of  Community  He Workers  and  elected  representatives  of  community  at  District  Hospital/  Community  Hea Centre  for  awareness  generation  regardin g  identification  of  early  signs  of  mental  illness  an improving health seeking behavior.

(d) to (f): The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been regularly requesting all States/UT Governments to ensure strict compliance of the statutorily warranted provisions of the Act,  including,  inter -alia, Establishment  of  State  Mental  Health  Authority  and  Mental  Health Review Boards.

As per available information,  the State Mental Health Authorities have been constituted in  the following States:

- i) Manipur
2. ii) Jharkhand
3. iii)Tamil Nadu
4. iv) Tripura
- v) Uttar Pradesh
6. vi) HimachalPradesh
7. vii)Sikkim
8. viii) Karnataka
9. ix) Andhra Pradesh
- x) Assam
11. xi) Maharashtra
12. xii)Odisha
13. xiii) Punjab
14. xiv)Nagaland
15. xv)Telangana

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