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Every year on October 10, the world observes World Mental Health Day to underscore the growing burden of mental disorders — now affecting over one billion people globally, or 13% of the world’s population. India mirrors this crisis, with a 13.7% lifetime prevalence of mental disorders and rising suicides — 1.71 lakh cases in 2023, including a concerning 65% increase in student suicides over the past decade.

Rising Mental Health Concerns

Globally, anxiety and depression account for two-thirds of all diagnosed mental disorders. Between 2011 and 2021, the number of people with mental disorders rose faster than the world’s population. In India, changing social structures, excessive internet and social media use, academic pressure, and hostile work environments have aggravated psychological distress, especially among the youth. Poor lifestyle habits, reduced family interaction, and economic uncertainty have further deepened the crisis.

Structural Challenges in India’s Mental Healthcare System

India’s mental health system suffers from a triple deficit — of funding, workforce, and governance.

• Budgetary neglect: Mental health receives barely 1.05% of India’s total health expenditure, far below the WHO-recommended 5%.
• Severe workforce shortage: There are only 0.75 psychiatrists and 0.12 psychologists per 1 lakh people, compared to the WHO’s requirement of at least three psychiatrists.
• Treatment gaps: The National Mental Health Survey (2015–16) found 70–92% treatment gaps, meaning most people receive little or no professional care.
• Urban-rural divide: Specialists and rehabilitation facilities are concentrated in cities, while rural India, home to 70% of the population, remains severely underserved.
• Poor infrastructure and stigma: Many psychiatric institutions are plagued by neglect, while deep-rooted social stigma still equates mental illness with personal weakness.

Policy Framework and Initiatives

India has made several progressive policy moves:

• The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017decriminalised suicide attempts, guaranteed the right to mental healthcare, and introduced advance directives allowing patients to choose their treatment.
• The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2017recognises mental illness as a disability, expanding legal protections.
• In SukdebSaha vs. State of Andhra Pradesh, the Supreme Court affirmed mental health as part of the Right to Life under Article 21, legally obligating the state to ensure quality, accessible care.
• The District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) now operates in 767 districts, providing counselling, suicide prevention, and outreach services.
• The National Tele Mental Health Programme (Tele MANAS), launched in 2022, has enabled over 20 lakh tele-counselling sessions, improving access in underserved areas.
• Initiatives like Manodarpan aim to promote psychological well-being among over 11 crore students.

Learning from Global Models

Countries like Australia, Canada, and the UK allocate 8–10% of their health budgets to mental health and employ mid-level mental health providers who deliver nearly half of all counselling services. These nations also ensure near-universal insurance coverage and maintain real-time mental health surveillance — areas where India still lags.

Way Forward

A unified and decentralised mental health strategy must focus on:

• Raising mental health spending to at least 5% of total health expenditure.
• Expanding and training mid-level providers to bridge the rural-urban gap.
• Fully integrating mental health into primary healthcare and insurance systems.
• Updating diagnostic and policy frameworks in line with WHO’s ICD-11.
• Establishing district-level monitoring and accountability systems.
• Scaling anti-stigma campaigns across schools, workplaces, and communities.
• Ensuring inter-ministerial coordination among health, education, social justice, and labour departments for a cohesive national response.

Conclusion

India’s mental health challenge is not merely a medical issue but a socio-economic and governance imperative. Bridging systemic gaps in funding, workforce, and awareness—while fostering empathy and inclusion—can transform India’s mental health landscape, aligning it with global best practices and the vision of holistic well-being under Article 21 of the Constitution.