Question : Mental Health

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

(a) whether according to a 2011 World Health Organisation (WHO) sponsored study, India has been ranked among the world''s most depressed countries, if so, the details thereof and the concrete steps taken in this regard;

(b) the number of people affected by mental health issues during the past three years;

(c) the measures taken by the Government to address the stigma of mental health problems in rural areas;

(d) whether the Government has any plan to set up a National Mental Health Trust for such patients; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the other measures taken in this regard?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a): The WHO sponsored study published in 2011 was undertaken internationally across 18 countries to compare the burden of mental health problems. In India, the study was undertaken in 11 centres during 2001 – 2004 but the results from only one centre were included in the published study, which is not truly representative of the situation across India.

(b): The data regarding number of people suffering from mental health issues in the country is not mainatined centrally. However, as per the recent National Mental Health Survey conducted in 12 states of the country by National Institute of Mental Health And Neuro Sciences, Bangalore in 2015 – 16, the prevalence of mental morbidity among adults in 10.6%.

(c): To address the stigma related to mental health problems, the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) has been restructured to include additional components like suicide prevention services, work place stress management, life skills training and counselling in schools and colleges. Support is also provided for Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities for removal of stigma associated with mental illness.



(d) & (e): No proposal for setting up of a National Mental Health Trust for mentally ill patients is presently under consideration in this Ministry.

However, to address the burden of mental disorders, the Government of India is implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) and the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP). Funds have been released for 339 districts in the country under the DMHP for detection, management and treatment of mental disorders/ illness. With the objective to address the shortage of mental health professionals in the country, establishment of 18 Centres of Excellence in Mental Health and strengthening/ establishment of 39 Post Graduate training departments in mental health specialties have been funded to increase the PG training capacity in mental health as well as improving the tertiary care treatment facility. Besides, three Central Institutions viz. National Institute of Mental Health And Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur and Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi have been strengthened for augmenting the human resources in the area of mental health and for capacity building in the country.