Govt provides updates on mental health programmes in India

To address the burden of mental disorders, the Government of India is implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) in the country. The District Mental   Health Programme (DMHP) component of the NMHP  has been sanctioned for implementation in 767 districts for which support is provided to States/UTs through the National Health Mission. Facilities made available under DMHP at the Community Health Centre (CHC) and Primary Health Centre (PHC) levels, inter-alia, include outpatient services, assessment, counselling/ psycho-social interventions, continuing care and support to persons with severe mental disorders, drugs, outreach services, ambulance services etc. In addition to the above services, there is a provision of 10-bed in-patient facilities at the district level. 

In addition to the above, the government is also taking steps to strengthen mental healthcare services at the primary healthcare level. The government has upgraded more than 1.73 lakh SHCs, PHCs, UPHCs and UHWCs to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Mental health services have been added to the package of services under comprehensive primary health care provided at these Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Operational guidelines on mental, neurological, and substance use disorders (MNS) at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been released under the ambit of Ayushman Bharat.    

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) has also formulated the country’s first National Suicide Prevention Strategy. The strategy is available on its website (www.mohfw.gov.in).

Besides the above, MoH&FW launched a “National Tele Mental Health Programme” on October 10, 2022, to further improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services in the country. As of July 23, 2024, 36 States/ UTs have set up 53 Tele MANAS Cells and have started telemental health services.  More than 11,76,000 calls have been handled on the helpline number. Further, the Department of Higher Education has also been requested for wide publicity of NTMHP / Tele MANAS in the educational institutes under their department and share the helpline number among the students to access the helpline during stressful and challenging times. All States/UTs have also been requested for wide circulation and publicity of NTMHP / Tele MANAS in the respective States/UTs especially among students in educational institutions. All Institutes of National Importance, AIIMS and Central Government Medical Colleges have also been requested to publicise Tele MANAS among students to access the helpline at any time for free and confidential support.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai.

Edits made by EH News Bureau