Mental Health Disorders Among Elderly Are About 15 %: Union Government (Photo on X @cardio73)
New Delhi: The Union Government on Friday disclosed that the prevalence of the mental health issues among the elderly over the age of 60 years is approximately 15 percent. Though the government has been implementing various schemes, the issue of elderly mental health has continued to be pressing. The World Health Organization (WHO)’s recent data showed that nearly 80% of those in the 60-74 years age group suffer from mental health illness, with both males and females in equal proportion.
Answering the questions on the number of psychiatrists per lakh people in the country, the Union Government said that as per the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) 2016, conducted by the NIMHANS, the availability of psychiatrists in the NMHS states varied from 0.05 per lakh population in Madhya Pradesh to 1.2 per lakh population in Kerala.
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Speaking about the deteriorating mental health issues among the senior citizens, Dr P Kamath, Cardiologist and Winner of Prime minister PMBJK award says inhibition, isolation and insecurity are the three evils which plague senior citizens the most, after he conducted a Cardiac camp for the elderly at Mangaluru in 2023.
Inhibition, Isolation and Insecurity are the three evils which plague senior citizens the most. Conducted a unique Cardiac camp today for them at Mangaluru where 150 people were screened. pic.twitter.com/av8DMAIcpq
— Dr P Kamath (@cardio73) March 12, 2023
Regarding the number of government-run mental hospitals and public psychiatric beds in the country, the ministry stated that there are 47 providers, including 3 Central Mental Health Institutions. The number of psychiatric beds available in three Central Mental Health Institutions, viz. the National Institute of Mental Health and NeuroSciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru; the Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP), Ranchi; and the Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health (LGBRIMH), Tezpur, is 1096, 643, and 336 beds, respectively,” the response added.
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Regarding the government initiative to assuage the concerns of the elderly about mental health, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said that it is implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), adding that 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 and union territories through the National Health Mission.
The ministry then said that under DMHP, facilities are made available at Community Health Centre (CHC) and Primary Health Centre (PHC) levels for all, including the elderly, and the service consisted of outpatient services, assessment, counselling and psychosocial interventions, continuing care and support to persons with severe mental disorders, drugs, outreach services, ambulance services, etc.
The minister further highlighted that the government also implemented the National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE), and the aims of which include the setting up of a geriatric department in regional geriatric centers (RGC) with OPD care services and a 30-bedded geriatric ward, the setting up of geriatric units at district hospitals to provide specialized geriatric services, including a 10-bedded geriatric ward, the establishment of a rehabilitation unit at all community health centers and geriatric clinics twice a week, and the setting up of a weekly geriatric clinic by trained medical officers at primary health centers and information
The response moreover added several projects and schemes launched to provide support to the elderly who are suffering from mental health disorders.
