Lok Sabha Question No. 3445 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-17
Subject: Mental well being of children during COVID-19
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Aparajita Sarangi, Sarmistha Sethi

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3445 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 TH  DECEMBER, 2021

## MENTAL WELL BEING OF CHILDREN DURING COVID-19

## 3445.   SHRIMATI APARAJITA SARANGI: SHRIMATI SARMISTHA SETHI:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of mental health issues of children due to loss of parents, family members, economic loss in the family and education related issues caused by workfrom-home  and  virtual  education  culture  due  to  COVID-19  pandemic,  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  measures/initiatives/implemented  schemes  to encourage mental health check-ups among children and adults for mitigating mental health stigma among the masses, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether mental health is covered in various insurances offered to people in the country and if so, details thereof; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  plans  to  encourage  companies  and  employers  to  adopt  mental health policies for a healthy work environment and if so, details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a): Realizing the impact that COVID-19 may have on the mental health of the people, including children,  the  Government  has  taken  a  number  of  initiatives  to  provide  psychosocial  support during COVID-19. These initiatives include:

- (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  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.

(b):  To  address  the  burden  of  mental  disorders,  the  Government  of  India  is  supporting implementation of the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) under the National Mental Health Programme in 692 districts of the country for detection, management and treatment of mental disorders/ illness with the major components of counselling in schools and colleges, work place stress management, life skills training, suicide prevention services and IEC activities for generation  of  awareness  and  removal  of  stigma  associated  with  Mental  Illness.  Further,  funds upto Rs. 12 lakhs per annum are provided to each district supported under DMHP 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.

(c): As per Section 21 (4) of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, every insurer shall make provision for  medical  insurance  for  treatment  of  mental  illness  on  the  same  basis  as  is  available  for treatment of physical illness. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India vide order dated 16th August, 2018 has directed all insurance companies to comply with the aforesaid provision of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017.

(d): The National Mental Health Policy, 2014 provides for incorporation of programmes to assist adults in handling of stressful life circumstances in workplace policies. The workplace policies should cover those employed in the organized as well as unorganized sectors.

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