Lok Sabha Question No. 432 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-21
Subject: Mental Health Treatment
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Achyutananda Samanta

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 432 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST JULY, 2023

## MENTALHEALTHTREATMENT

## 432. SHRI ACHYUTANANDASAMANTA:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether as per a recent study conducted by National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), 80 per cent of people in the country do not have access to treatment for mental health issues and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has taken/proposes to take steps to address the issue, if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the details of the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to develop proper infrastructure, including availability of adequate psychiatrists and psychologists, to deal with the issue of large mental health burden in India, especially of the youth?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (PROF. SATYA PAL SINGH BAGHEL)

- (a) 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.
- (b) & (c) For providing affordable and accessible mental healthcare facilities in the country, 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 738 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. 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. Mental Health Services are also provisioned for 22 AIIMS. These services are also available under PMJAY.

Besides the above, the Government has launched a 'National Tele Mental Health Programme' on 10 th October, 2022, to improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services in the country. As on 18.07.2023, 31 States/ UTs have set up 42 Tele MANAS Cells and have started tele mental health services. More than 1,94,000 calls have been handled on the helpline number.

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