Context: Mental Healthcare is now covered at par with physical illnesses across health insurance plans in India, following the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 and IRDAI directive. This milestone will help people to see mental illness with the same lens they use for physical diseases.
Relevance of the Topic: Mains: Mental Healthcare in India: Challenges, Govt. Initiatives & Way Forward.
Globally, mental health conditions affect about one in five adults. The World Health Organisation estimates an annual productivity loss of over $1 trillion due to untreated mental health issues. In India, the conversation related to mental health is gaining momentum.
Challenges pertaining to Mental Healthcare
- Visibility and Tangibility: Physical disabilities are usually visible and tangible, making them easier to recognise and diagnose. Mental health issues, on the other hand, are often invisible and intangible, leading to difficulties in diagnosis and understanding by others.
- Social Stigma: The stigma around mental health can cause individuals to feel ashamed, leading to avoidance of seeking help and increasing isolation. Cultural factors play a crucial role in shaping attitudes (negative attitude) towards mental health in India.
- Inadequate Healthcare Infrastructure: India's healthcare infrastructure is severely under-resourced, particularly in the realm of mental health. There is a profound shortage of mental health facilities and psychiatric wards, especially in rural areas. Additionally, existing facilities often lack the resources and capacity to provide comprehensive and continuous care, leading to inadequate treatment and support.
- Lack of access, affordability, and awareness: National Mental Health Survey (NMHS), 2015-16 found that nearly 80% of those suffering from mental disorders did not receive treatment for over a year.
- Difficulty in Measuring Outcomes: The outcomes of mental health interventions are often harder to measure compared to physical health interventions.
Government Initiatives
- National Mental Health Program: To address the burden of mental disorders, the Government of India is implementing the National Mental Health Program (NMHP) since 1982. NMHP and Health and Wellness Centres are efforts to provide quality care at the primary healthcare level. Deaddiction centres and rehabilitation services are also available. Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities are an integral part of the NMHP.
- Mental Health Policy of 2014 upholds a participatory and rights-based approach to quality service provisions. The main objectives are:
- Universal Access to Mental Health Care
- Decriminalisation of Suicide
- Enhance availability and distribution of skilled human resources for mental health.
- Increase access to mental health services for vulnerable groups.
- Mental Healthcare Act of 2017 provides the legal framework for providing services to protect, promote and fulfil the rights of people with mental illnesses. These are in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
- Kiran Helpline: In 2020, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched a 24/7 toll-free helpline ‘Kiran’ to provide support to people facing anxiety, stress, depression, suicidal thoughts and other mental health concerns.
- Tele Manas Seva: To provide free tele-mental health services all over the country round the clock, particularly catering to people in remote or under-served areas & to open at least one Tele-MANAS Cell in each State/UT.
Way Forward
The mental health situation in India demands:
- Active policy interventions and resource allocation by the government. Developed countries allocate 5-18% of their annual healthcare budget to mental health, while India allocates roughly 0.05% (OECD, 2014).
- Measures to train and sensitise the community/society to reduce the stigma around mental health. The need of the hour is to provoke masses to learn about mental health through campaigns like Swach Mansikta Abhiyan. Persistent nationwide efforts by utilising Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers.
- Access to safe and effective care to people experiencing mental health problems in lines with those with physical health problems. By integrating mental health services with primary healthcare, mental health care becomes more accessible and less stigmatised.
- Leverage Technology: Telemedicine and digital health platforms can extend the reach of mental health services, particularly in areas with a shortage of mental health professionals.
Also Read: Mental Health in India