Question : Depression and Anxiety Disorder

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

(a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of WHO’s report which states that 56 millon Indians suffer from depression and 38 million suffered from anxiety disorder;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State/ UT-wise;

(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government for prevention, control, treatment and rehabilitation of people suffering from mental illness along with the funds allocated and utilized for the purpose in last five years, State/UT wise; and

(d) whether the Government has launched any programme for creating awareness among people about mental illness and if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a) & (b): As per the World Health Organization’s Report “Depression and Other Common Mental Disorders – Global Health Estimates” released in 2017, the number of people suffering from depression and anxiety disorders in India is 58 million (4.5% of the total population) and 38 million (3 % of the total population) respectively. However, as per the National Mental Health Survey conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore in 12 States of the country, the prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders in India is estimated to be 2.7% and 0.6% of the total population.

(c): To address the burden of mental disorders, the Government of India is implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) since 1982. The Government is supporting implementation of the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) under NMHP in 517 districts of the country for detection, management and treatment of mental disorders/ illness. With the objective to address the shortage of mental health professionals in the country and to increase the PG training capacity in mental health as well as improving the tertiary care treatment facility, establishment of 25 Centres of Excellence in Mental Health and strengthening/ establishment of 47 Post Graduate training departments in mental health specialties have been funded. 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 human resources in the area of mental health and for capacity building in the country.


Further, National Trust, under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, runs several schemes like Samarth (Residential centre), Nirmaya (Health Insurance Scheme), Aspiration (Day Care Centre), Gyan Prabha (Scholarship Scheme), Uddyam Prabha (Interest Subsidy Scheme), Sahyogi (Caregivers Training Scheme), Gharaunda etc all over the country for rehabilitation and welfare of four disabilities i.e. Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities.

The State/UT-wise details of funds released for implementation of various tertiary level activities of National Mental Health Programme during the last five years is at Annexure.

(d): The Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities are an integral part of the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) to generate awareness among masses towards mental illness. At the District level, funds are provided to each District under the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) for IEC and awareness generation activities in the community, schools, workplaces with community involvement. Under the DMHP various IEC activities such as awareness messages in local newspapers and radio, street plays, wall paintings etc. are undertaken by the States/UTs.