Lok Sabha Question No. 30 (STARRED), answered on 2023-02-03
Subject: Mental Health Care Services
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Ravneet Singh

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 30 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3 RD  FEBRUARY, 2023

## MENTAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES

## *30. SHRI RAVNEET SINGH BITTU:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that a survey by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) has found millions of Indians being in need of mental health care services and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  there  is  lack  of  education  and  awareness  concerning psychological disorders in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the number of mental health professionals available in the country especially in the rural areas, State/UT-wise especially in the State of Punjab;
- (d) whether the Government is taking any measures to address the growing mental health related issues in the country; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

- (a) to (  e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 30 FOR 3 RD  FEBRUARY, 2023

(a) As  per  the  National  Mental  Health  Survey  conducted  by  the  Government through  National  Institute  of  Mental  Health  and  Neurosciences  (NIMHANS), Bangalore in 12 States of the country, the prevalence of mental disorders including common mental disorders,  severe  mental  disorders,  and  alcohol  and  substance  use disorders (excluding tobacco use disorder) in adults over the age of 18 years is about 10.6%. The major findings of the survey are as under:

(i) The prevalence of mental morbidity is high in urban metropolitan areas.

(ii) Mental  disorders  are  closely  linked  to  both  causation  and  consequences  of several non-communicable disorders (NCD).

(iii) Nearly 1 in 40 and 1 in 20 persons suffer from past and current depression, respectively.

(iv) Neurosis  and  stress  related  disorders  affect  3.5%  of  the  population  and  was reported to be higher among females (nearly twice as much in males).

(v) Data indicate that 0.9 % of the survey population were at high risk of suicide.

(vi) Nearly 50% of persons with major depressive disorders reported difficulties in carrying out their daily activities.

(b)  To  generate  awareness  among  masses  about  mental  illnesses  Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities are an integral part of the NMHP. At the  District  level,  sufficient  funds  are  provided  to  each  District  under  the  DMHP under the Non-communicable Diseases flexi-pool of National Health Mission for IEC and  awareness  generation  activities  in  the  community,  schools,  workplaces,  with community involvement. Under the DMHP, various IEC activities such as awareness messages  in  local  newspapers  and  radio,  street  plays,  wall  paintings  etc.  are undertaken by the States/UTs.

(c)  to  (e)  As  per  information  provided  by  National  Medical  Commission  (NMC), there are 13,08,009 allopathic doctors registered with the State Medical Councils and the National Medical Commission (NMC) as on June, 2022. The Government is also augmenting the availability of manpower to deliver mental healthcare services in the underserved  areas  of  the  country  by  providing  online  training  courses  to  various categories of general healthcare medical and para medical professionals through the Digital  Academies,  since  2018,  established  at  the  three  Central  Mental  Health Institutes namely National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur, Assam, and  Central  Institute  of  Psychiatry,  Ranchi.  The  number  of  trained  professionals under Digital Academy are as follows:

|   Sr. No. | Institute   |   No. of professionals trained |
|-----------|-------------|--------------------------------|
|         1 | NIMHANS     |                          16313 |
|         2 | LGBRIMH     |                            371 |
|         3 | CIP         |                            219 |

The  mental health services are available at three Central Mental Health Institutions, viz. National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru,  Central  Institute  of  Psychiatry  (CIP),  Ranchi,  Lokopriya Gopinath  Bordoloi  Regional  Institute  of  Mental  Health  (LGBRIMH),  Tezpur,  All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Medical Colleges.

Mental  Health  services  are  provided  at  district  level  through  District  Mental Health  Programme  (DMHP).        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. 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 31.01.2023, 25 States/ UTs have set up 36 Tele MANAS Cells and have started mental health services. 43,861 calls have been handled on the helpline number.

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