Lok Sabha Question No. 3414 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-08
Subject: Mental Health Related to Corona Pandemic
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Ashok Kumar Rawat

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3414 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08 TH AUGUST, 2025

## MENTALHEALTH RELATED TO CORONAPANDEMIC

## † 3414. SHRI ASHOK KUMAR RAWAT:

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

- (a) the total number of cases received by the Union Government with regard mental health issues due to corona pandemic in the country;
- (b) whether the Government has formulated any scheme to address the said health issue in the county; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

- (a) to (c) The details of cases regarding mental health issues due to corona pandemic in the country is not maintained centrally.

However, realizing the impact that COVID-19 may have on the mental health of the people, the Government had taken a number of steps, including -

- (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 audiovisual materials on managing stress and anxiety, and promoting an environment of support and care for all.
- (iv) Issuance and dissemination 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.

Further, the Government has also taken comprehensive measures to address mental health issues in the country including those arising due to COVID-19 pandemic.

-  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 767 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 Government is also taking steps to strengthen mental healthcare services at primary healthcare level. The Government has upgraded more than 1.77 lakh Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Mental health services have been added in the packages of services under Comprehensive Primary Health Care provided at these Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Operational guidelines and training manuals for various cadres on Mental, Neurological, and substance use disorders (MNS) at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been released under the ambit of Ayushman Bharat.
-  Besides the above, the Government has launched a 'National Tele Mental Health Programme' on 10th October, 2022, to further improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services in the country. As on 31.07.2025, 36 States/ UTs have set up 53 Tele MANAS Cells and have started tele mental health services. Approx 24 lakhs calls have been handled on the helpline number.
-  The Government has also launched Tele MANAS Mobile Application on the occasion of World Mental Health Day -October 10, 2024. Tele-MANAS Mobile Application is a comprehensive mobile platform that has been developed to provide support for mental health issues ranging from well-being to mental disorders. The Government has also launched the video consultation facility under Tele-MANAS, as another upgrade to the already existing audio calling facility.