Economic Survey 2023-24 highlighted an increase in Mental Health Issues among Indians | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
News Today Logo

    Economic Survey 2023-24 highlighted an increase in Mental Health Issues among Indians

    Posted 23 Jul 2024

    2 min read

    Mental health is a state of mental well-being enabling people to cope with stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn and work well, and contribute to their community.

    Prevalence of Mental Health Issues

    • According to survey, 10.6% of adults in India suffer from mental disorders, while treatment gap for mental disorders ranged between 70 to 92% for different disorders. (National Mental Health Survey 2015-16).
    • Higher rates of mental health issues in urban areas as compared to rural areas and urban non-metro regions.
    • In 2019, one in every eight people (or 970 million people globally) were living with a mental disorder. (WHO)

    Factors affecting Mental Health

    • Poverty via stressful living conditions, financial instability, and lack of employment opportunities.
    • Rise in nuclear family, leads to psychological issues in elders due to lack of support system.

    Impact 

    • Reduced concentration among children’s (37%), due to overuse of smartphone, internet. (NCPCR)
    • Reduce productivity in academics due to anxiety, mood swings etc. 
    • Rising healthcare costs places an increased burden on poor households.

    Suggestions to tackle Mental Health Issues

    • Increase number of psychiatrists, from 0.75 psychiatrists per lakh population in 2021 to 3 per lakh population (WHO norm).
    • Advocating for a bottom-up strategy engaging communities comprehensively.

    Initiatives taken to promote Mental Health

    India

    • Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele- MANAS).
    • Manodarpan, to provide psychosocial support to students during COVID-19 and beyond.
    • National Mental Health Programme to ensure availability and accessibility of minimum mental healthcare for all.

    Global

    • Adoption of Paro Declaration, to provide universal Access to People-centred Mental Health Care and Services.
    • Mental Health Gap Action Programme by WHO to scale up services for mental, neurological and substance use disorders.
    • Tags :
    • Mental Health
    • Paro Declaration
    • Economic Survey 2023-24
    Watch News Today
    Subscribe for Premium Features