Lok Sabha Question No. 2825 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-17
Subject: Mental Health Services in PHCs
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: S. Jothimani

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2825 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 TH  MARCH, 2023

## MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN PHCs

## 2825.  MS. S. JOTHIMANI:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  offer  mental  health  services  at  Primary  Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and village health clinics, particularly for those in the BPL category and if so, the  details  thereof,  State/UT-wise  along  with  the  number  of  PHCs  offering  mental  health services in the country;
- (b) whether the Government also proposes to consider introducing schemes for providing at-home mental health services, especially for women and tribals in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  details  of  support  provided  to  children  experiencing  mental  health  issues,  in  terms  of offering  mental  health  services  as  well  as  personal  and  career  counselling  in  Government schools, particularly those situated in rural areas;
- (d) whether the Government has conducted a study to understand rural mental health challenges and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken to increase the number of psychologists and counsellors practicing in rural areas of the country; and
- (e) the number of psychologists and counsellors practicing in rural areas of the country?

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

- (a) & (b)  For providing affordable and accessible mental healthcare facilities in the country, 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 above services there is a provision of 10 bedded in-patient facility at the District level. The State-wise list of 716 districts approved under DMHP is available at https://main.mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/Approved\_0.pdf.

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) In order to ensure holistic development of adolescent population, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) in 2014 to reach out to 25.30 crore adolescents in the country. Under RKSK Mental Health is one of six key thematic  areas  identified  for  prioritization  under  the  programme  including  sexual  and reproductive health, nutrition, injuries and violence (including gender based violence), noncommunicable diseases, and substance misuse.

Under  the  aegis  of  the  School  Health  Programme  under  Ayushman  Bharat,  NCERT  has developed  a  comprehensive  package  titled  'Training  and  Resource  Material:  Health  and Wellness of School-going Children'. A specific module has been included on 'Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health', which has activities related to the mental health and wellbeing of students and teachers.

The Ministry of Education has taken up a proactive initiative, named, 'Manodarpan', covering a wide range of activities to provide psychosocial support to students, teachers and families for Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing during the COVID outbreak and beyond. Under the Manodarpan initiative, a Web page (URL: http://manodarpan.education.gov.in) has been created  carrying  advisory  guidelines,  Frequently  Asked  Questions  (FAQs),  Practical  tips, posters, videos, do's and don'ts for students, teachers/faculty and families for psychosocial support have been uploaded on the Web-page. A National Toll-free Helpline (8448440632) for  a  country-wide outreach to students from schools, colleges and universities to provide them tele-counselling to address their mental health and psychosocial issues during and after the COVID-19 situation has been set up.

NCERT has started 'NCERT Counselling Services for School Children' in April, 2020 to help school students across the country share their concerns. This service is provided free of charge by about 270 counsellors across different regions of the country. Live interactive sessions on 'SAHYOG: Guidance for Mental Wellbeing of Children' are telecast on 12 PM eVidya DTHTV channels for classes 1 to 12. To handle stress and anxiety, recorded videos on Yoga are telecast through 12 DTH TV channels with effect from 1st September, 2020 from Classes 1 to 12 and also digital resources are made available in digital platforms, i.e., DIKSHA.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) provides pre and post examination telecounselling facilities through centralized toll-free helpline.

- (d) The Government conducted the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) of India through the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru in 2016 as per which the prevalence of mental disorders in adults over the age of 18 years is about 10.6%. The treatment gap for mental disorders ranged between 70% to 92% for different disorders.

Under the Tertiary care component of NMHP, 25 Centres of Excellence 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.    Further,  the  Government  has  also  supported  19 Government medical colleges/institutions to strengthen 47 PG Departments in mental health specialties. 22 AIIMS also have the provision of Mental Health Services. These services are also available under PMJAY.

- (e) The data regarding number of psychologists and counsellors practicing in rural areas of the country, is not maintained centrally.

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