Lok Sabha Question No. 1073 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-22
Subject: Mental Health in Marginalised Children
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Gaurav Gogoi

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1073 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 ND  JULY, 2022

## MENTAL HEALTH IN MARGINALISED CHILDREN

## 1073.   SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

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

- (a) whether the Government has conducted any study of mental health in marginalised children after the pandemic;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government is aware of interdependent reports stating aggravated mental illness in marginalised children;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of the progress under various programs to promote mental well-being in children, especially in marginalised children?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a)  to  (d):  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.

(e):  For  providing  affordable  and  accessible  mental  healthcare  facilities  to  the  population, including the poor and underprivileged, the Government is implementing National Mental Health Programme  (NMHP)  in  the  country.    The  District  Mental  Health  Programme  (DMHP) component  of  the  NMHP  has  been  sanctioned  for  implementation  in  704  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.

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