Prevalence Of Mental Disorders Adults Is About 10.6%: Health Ministry

The health ministry informed the Parliament on Friday that the prevalence of mental disorders including common mental disorders, severe mental disorders, and alcohol and substance use disorders (excluding tobacco use disorder) in adults over the age of 18 years is about 10.6%. The government has quoted the National Mental Health Survey conducted by the Government through National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore in 12 States of the country.

Junior minister in health ministry Prof. SP Singh Baghel was responding to a question by Member of Parliament Sanjay Kaka Patil in the Lok Sabha.

The survey, the ministry said, has also found that the prevalence of mental morbidity is high in urban metropolitan areas and the mental disorders are closely linked to both causation and consequences of several non-communicable disorders (NCD).

Other major findings:

• Nearly 1 in 40 and 1 in 20 persons suffer from past and current depression, respectively.
• Neurosis and stress disorders affect 3.5% of the population and was reported to be higher among females (nearly twice as much in males).
• Data indicate that 0.9 % of the survey population were at high risk of suicide.
• Nearly 50% of persons with major depressive disorders reported difficulties in carrying out their daily activities.

The health ministry informed that realizing the impact that COVID-19 may have on the mental health of the people, the government has set up a 24/7 helpline to provide psychosocial support, by mental health professionals, to the entire affected population, divided into different target groups. These groups cover students, adult, elderly, women and healthcare workers. In addition, advisories on management of mental health issues, catering to different segments of the society have also been issued by the government.

For providing affordable and accessible mental healthcare facilities in the country, including the poor and underprivileged, the government is implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) in the country, the minister said.

The District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) component of the NMHP has been sanctioned for implementation in 738 districts of the country. Under DMHP, sufficient funds are provided to each district.

In addition to the above, the health ministry said the government is also taking steps to strengthen mental healthcare services at primary healthcare level. “The Government has upgraded more than 1.6 lakh SHCs, PHCs, UPHCs and UHWCs to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Mental health services have been added in 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,” it said.

The health ministry said the government has launched a “National Tele Mental Health Programme” on 10th October, 2022, to further improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services in the country. As on December 4, 2023, 34 states and union territories have set up 46 Tele MANAS Cells and have started mental health services and more than 4,81,000 calls have been handled on the helpline.