Question : MENTAL ILLNESS

(a) The number of persons suffering from mental illness/disorder, State/ UT-wise;

(b) Whether adequate manpower and health infrastructure exists to tackle the rising number of cases of mental illness if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;

(c) The steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government for augmenting manpower and setting up of more institutes/hospitals and upgrading the existing one and also providing pscychiatrists in all the medical centres on regular basis under the Central Government Health Scheme, State/UT-wise;

(d) The funds earmarked, allocated and utilized for the management, prevention and cure of mental disorder/ illness during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise; and

(e) The present status of framing of the National Mental Health Policy along with the time by which the said policy is likely to be finalised and operationalised in the country?

THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 281 FOR 12th DECEMBER, 2014

(a) In 2005, the National Commission on Macroeconomics and Health reported that 10-20 million (1-2% of population) suffered from severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and nearly 50 million (5% of population) from common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety, yielding an overall estimate of 6.5 per cent of the population.

b) There are 3 Centrally run Mental Health Institutes, 40 State run Mental Hospitals and 398 Departments of Psychiatry in various Medical Colleges across the country equipped to treat patients suffering from mental illness.

It is estimated that there are 3800 Psychiatrists, 898 Clinical Psychologists, 850 Psychiatric Social Workers and 1500 Psychiatric Nurses in the country. The list of Central and State Mental Health Institutes is at Annexure – I.

c) To address the acute shortage of qualified mental health professionals in the country, the Government is implementing manpower development schemes for establishment of Centres of Excellence and strengthening/establishing Post Graduate (PG) Departments in mental health specialties. Till date, support has been provided for establishment of 11 Centres of Excellence and strengthening/establishing 27 PG Departments (in 11 Institutes) in mental health specialties in the country. The Expenditure Finance Committee has approved a proposal for establishment of additional 10 Centres of Excellence and support to strengthen/establish 93 PG Departments during the 12th Five Year Plan Period.

During the previous plan periods, funds have also been provided for up-gradation of 88 Psychiatric Wings of Govt. Medical Colleges/ General Hospitals and modernization of 29 State run mental hospitals in the country. The list of Institutes supported under manpower Development Schemes is at Annexure - II.

There is no provision under the Central Government Health Scheme for providing psychiatrists in all the medical centres on regular basis under the Central Government Health Scheme.

d) The details of funds released under various schemes of the National Mental Health Programme during the last three years and the current year, State/UT wise is at Annexure - III.

e) The Mental Health Policy for the country with a vision to promote mental health, prevent mental illness, enable recovery from mental illness, promote de-stigmatization and ensure socio- economic inclusion of persons affected by mental illness by providing accessible, affordable and quality health and social care to all persons with mental illness was launched on 10th October, 2014.