Lok Sabha Question No. 2297 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-23
Subject: Physical and Mental Health of Children
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Balubhau (Alias Suresh Narayan) Dhanorkar

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUE STION NO. 2297 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 RD SEPTEMBER, 2020

## PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN

## 2297. SHRI BALUBHAU ALIAS SURESH NARAYAN DHANORKAR:

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

(a) whether there has been an adverse impact of the COVID - 19 lockdown on the physical and mental health of children;

- (b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the steps taken/being taken to promote awareness about mental health issues among children and parents and address the anxiety issues caused in children by the fear of COVID - 19 virus?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a)  to  (c)  The  Government  has  not  conducted  any  study  to  assess  the  impact  of  COVID lockdown on the physical and mental health of children.

During the Pandemic, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued guidelines continuity of all essential services including child health.

However, realizing the impact that  COVID -19 may have on the mental health of children and may cause anx iety in them, the Government  has taken a number of initiatives to prov psychosocial support during COVID 19: These initiatives include:

- A 24/7 helpline number 08046110007 is set up to provide psychological support by mental health professionals, t o those seeking counseling services including children.
- A detailed guidnace (Mental Health in the times of COVID - 19 Pandemic -Guidance for General  Medical  and  Specialized  Mental  Health  Care  Setting)  has  been  issued  b National Institute of Mental Health an d Neurosciences (NIMHANS).
- Advocacy  through  various  media  platforms  including  social  media  in  the  form  o creative and audio - visual materials on managing stress and anxiety and promoting an environment of support and care for all.
- Online  capacity  buildin g  of  frontline  workers  was  conducted  by  NIMHANS  for providing psychosocial support though (iGOT) - Diksha platform.
- Orientation  of  programm  officers  and  adolescent  heath  counsellors  on  promoti adolescent well being during COVID 19 pandemic was conducted i n collaboration with Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS).
- IEC  materials  like  pamphlets  and  videos  have  been  developed  for  parents  an caregivers on addressing the mental health concerns of children during COVID - 19.
- Special episodes on mental health have been aired through LokSabha T.V telecasts.
- Funds  have  been  allocated  to  the  States/UTs  Emergency  COVID  Response  Plan (ECRP) to carry out IEC campaigns on various topics related to COVID 19 includin mental health.
- Advisories  issued  to  States/UTs  and Child  Care  Institutions  (CCIs)  for  ensuring precautionary  measures  for  safety  and  protection  of  children  living  in  Child Institutions and children in distress. The National Commission for Protection of Rights (NCPCR) has also issued advisory re garding care and protection of children.
- All the guidelines/advisories and advocacy materials can be accessed on Ministr Health and Family Welfare website under 'Behavioral Health -Psychosocial helpline' ( www.moh fw.gov.in )

Further  to  address  the  burden  of  mental  disorders,  the  Government  of  India implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) since 1982. The Government is supporting implementation of the District Mental Health Programme in 692 distric ts  with the objective to:

- Provide suicide prevention services, work place stress management, life skill tra and counseling in schools and colleges.
- Provide mental health services including prevention, promotion and long term contin care at diffe rent levels.
- Augment  institutional  capacity  in  terms  of  infrastructure,  equipments  and  hu resources for mental healthcare.
- Provide community awareness and participation in the delivery of mental healthcare services.