Lok Sabha Question No. 3920 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-24
Subject: Cases of Mental Illness
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Badruddin Ajmal

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3920 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  MARCH, 2023

## CASES OF MENTAL ILLNESS

## 3920.  SHRI M. BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that the cases of mental illness are on the rise in the country, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic and millions of people are suffering from it and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the strategy taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to tackle this crisis;
- (c) whether it is also a fact that the country has a shortage of hospitals to treat the disease related to mental health and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has made any plan to increase adequate budgetary allocation for setting up hospitals and health care centres to address the challenge; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

- (a) & (b)   The 'Global prevalence and burden of depressive and anxiety disorders in 204 countries and  territories  in  2020  due  to  the  COVID-19  pandemic'  study,  published  has  estimated  an increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression in India during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Realizing  the  impact  that  COVID-19  may  have  on  the  mental  health  of  the  people,  the Government has taken a number of initiatives, including -

- (i) Setting  up  of  a  24/7  helpline  to  provide  psychosocial  support,  by  mental  health professionals,  to  the  entire  affected  population,  divided  into  different  target  groups  viz children, adult, elderly, women and healthcare workers.
- (ii) Issuance  of  guidelines/  advisories  on  management  of  mental  health  issues,  catering  to different segments of the society.
- (iii) Advocacy  through  various  media  platforms  in  the  form  of  creative  and  audio-visual materials on managing stress and anxiety, and promoting an environment of support and care for all.
- (iv) Issuance  and  dissemination  of  detailed  guidelines  by  the  National  Institute  of  Mental Health  and  Neurosciences  (NIMHANS),  Bengaluru-  "Mental  Health  in  the  times  of COVID-19 Pandemic - Guidance for General Medical and Specialized Mental Health Care Settings".
- (v) All the guidelines, advisories and advocacy material can be accessed on Ministry of Health and  Family  Welfare  website  under  'Behavioural  Health  -  Psychosocial  helpline' (https://www.mohfw.gov.in/).
- (vi) Online  capacity  building  of  health  workers  by  NIMHANS  in  providing  psychosocial support and training through (iGOT)-Diksha platform.

Further, for providing affordable and accessible mental healthcare facilities to the population, including the poor and underprivileged, the Government is implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) in the country.  The District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) component of the NMHP has been sanctioned for implementation in 716 districts for which support is provided to States/UTs through the National Health Mission.  Facilities made available under DMHP at the Community Health Centre(CHC) and Primary Health Centre(PHC) levels, include  outpatient  services,  assessment,  counselling/  psycho-social  interventions,  continuing care and support to persons with severe mental disorders, drugs, outreach services, ambulance services etc.

In addition to the above, the Government is also taking steps to strengthen mental healthcare services at primary healthcare level. Mental health services have been added in the package of services under Comprehensive Primary Health Care under Ayushman Bharat - HWC Scheme. Operational guidelines on Mental, Neurological, and Substance Use Disorders (MNS) at Health and Wellness Centres (HWC) have been released under the ambit of Ayushman Bharat.

Besides the above, the Government has launched a 'National Tele Mental Health Programme' on 10 th October, 2022, to further improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services in the country. As on 09.03.2023, 25 States/ UTs have set up 36 Tele MANAS Cells and have started mental health services. 63806 calls have been handled on the helpline number.

- (c) to (e)  Under District Mental Health Programme, fund of Rs. 159.75 Crore have been approved for  States/UTs under National Health Mission for the  year 2022-23. Under the Tertiary care component  of  National  Mental  Health  Programme,  25  Centres  of  Excellence  and  47  PG Departments have been sanctioned to increase the intake of students in PG departments in mental health specialities as well as to provide tertiary level treatment facilities. For this scheme Rs. 35 Crore have been allocated for the year 2022-23.

Funds allocated for the year 2022-23 to 03 (three) Mental Health Institutions, namely, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health (LGBRIMH), Tezpur, Assam, and Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP), Ranchi, under the administrative control of the Central Government are as under:

| Name of the Institution   |   Funds Allocated (Rs. in Crore) |
|---------------------------|----------------------------------|
| NIMHANS, Bengaluru        |                            678   |
| LGBRIMH, Tezpur, Assam    |                             58.3 |
| CIP, Ranchi               |                            129   |