World Mental Health Day and Mental Health in India
World Mental Health Day, observed on October 10, highlights the prevalence of mental illnesses worldwide, affecting over one billion people or 13% of the global population. In India, the prevalence of mental disorders is 13.7%, covering nearly 200 million Indians.
Mental Healthcare Act, 2017
- Guarantees the right to mental health care.
- Decriminalizes suicide.
- Mandates insurance coverage.
- Enshrines patient dignity and autonomy.
Judicial and Government Initiatives
- Supreme Court recognizes mental health as a fundamental right under Article 21.
- District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) spans 767 districts, enhancing access to mental health services.
- Tele MANAS helpline offers 24/7 tele-counseling, facilitating 20,05,000 sessions.
- Manodarpan program reaches 11 crore students, promoting mental health in schools.
Challenges Faced
- Treatment gaps identified (70%-92%) with an 85% gap in common disorders like depression.
- Shortage of mental health professionals (0.75 psychiatrists per 1,00,000 people).
- Insufficient availability of psychotropic drugs and rehabilitation services.
- Persistent stigma, with over 50% of Indians viewing mental illness as weakness.
Global Comparison and Policy Shortcomings
- India's mental health budget is only 1.05% of total health spending.
- Other countries allocate 8%-10% of their health budget to mental health.
- Limited inclusion of emerging disorders in India’s policies and guidelines.
- Fragmented mental health surveillance systems and inadequate data collection.
Recommendations for Policy Reforms
- Increase mental health budget to at least 5% of total health expenditure.
- Develop a workforce with mid-level providers to address urban-rural disparities.
- Integrate mental health into primary healthcare and universal health insurance.
- Update diagnostic manuals to include WHO’s ICD-11 disorders.
- Enhance anti-stigma campaigns and mental health literacy in schools and workplaces.
- Strengthen inter-ministerial coordination for a unified mental health response.
Samayeta Bal, a former Legislative Assistants to Members of Parliament (LAMP) Fellow, advocates for these reforms as a current Parliamentary, Legislative, and Policy Researcher.
