Lok Sabha Question No. 2188 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-29
Subject: Suicidal Tendency in Doctors
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Abdul Majeed Ariff

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2188 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29 TH  JULY, 2022

## SUICIDAL TENDENCY IN DOCTORS

## 2188.  ADV. A.M. ARIFF:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  cognizance  of  the  fact  that  suicidal  tendency  among young doctors  who  are  unable  to  cope  up  with  the  stress,  has  been  increasing  across  the country, if so, the remedial action taken thereon;
- (b) whether the Government has collected any data on the number of suicides in the last five years among the doctors below the age of 30 and the students pursuing MBBS course and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government intends to commission any study to comprehensively address the issue of stress and its mitigation among medical professionals across the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether it is true that the students of secondary classes are being forced by their parents to attend coaching classes to appear for NEET and subjected to tremendous stress, if so, the details thereof?

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

(a) to (d): As per the 'Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India' Reports of the National Crime Records  Bureau  (NCRB),  the  number  of  suicides,  during  the  years  2016  to  2020,  due  to professional/ career problem by individuals aged 18 to 30 years is 3,100 and by individuals in all age groups due to failure in examinations is 12,397.

Government of  India  is  implementing  the  National  Mental  Health  Programme  (NMHP)  since 1982. The Government is supporting implementation of the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) under NMHP in 704 districts of the country with the objectives to:

- (i) Provide  suicide  prevention  services,  work  place  stress  management,  life  skills  training and counselling in schools and colleges.
- (ii) Provide mental health services including prevention, promotion and long-term continuing care at different levels of district healthcare delivery system.
- (iii) Augment institutional capacity in terms of infrastructure, equipment and human resource for mental healthcare.
- (iv) Promote  community  awareness  and  participation  in  the  delivery  of  mental  healthcare services.

Further, the Government has set up a 24/7 helpline to provide psychosocial support, by mental health  professionals,  to  the  entire  affected  population,  divided  into  different  target  groups  viz children,  students,  adult,  elderly,  women  and  healthcare  workers.  In  addition,  guidelines/ advisories on management of mental health issues, catering to different segments of the society have also been issued by the Government.

As  per  information  provided  by  National  Medical  Commission  (NMC),  the  Under  Graduate Medical Education Board has implemented new competency based medical education for MBBS students  wherein  Yoga  course  has  been  introduced  during  foundation  course  to  alleviate  the stress  and  depression  of  MBBS  students.  Further,  under  DMHP,  sufficient  funds  are  also provided  to  each  district  supported  under  the  Programme  for  targeted  interventions  with  the following objectives:

- (i) To provide class teachers with facilitative skill to promote life skill among their students.
- (ii) To provide the class teachers with knowledge and skills to identify emotional conduct, scholastic and substance use problems in their students
- (iii) To  provide  class  teachers  with  a  system  of  referral  for  students  with  psychological problems to the District Mental Health Team for inputs and treatment.
- (iv) To involve other stakeholders like parents, community leaders to enhance development of adolescents etc.

Besides the above, the Government has announced a 'National Tele Mental Health Programme' in the Budget of 2022-23, to further improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services in the country.

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