Context:

Mental health, once considered a taboo subject, has gradually moved to the forefront of public health discourse in India. Observed every year on October 10, World Mental Health Day reminds us that emotional and psychological well-being is as vital as physical health. The day, founded in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health, seeks to raise awareness, dispel stigma, and promote access to care. India’s journey—from centuries of neglect and superstition to modern systemic reform and digital innovation—mirrors the global evolution of how societies understand and address mental illness.

Modern Understanding and Freud’s Influence:

The 20th century marked a paradigm shift with the rise of Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalysis, which introduced the revolutionary concept of talk therapy. This transformed psychiatry from purely biological explanations to deeper psychological exploration of unconscious emotions and experiences.

The post-war decades brought the biomedical phase of psychiatry—featuring:

• • Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
  • Psychosurgery
  • Psychopharmacology

Drugs such as Lithium, Valium, and Prozac revolutionised treatment, enabling millions to manage chronic mental disorders. Yet, this era also bred an overreliance on medication, neglecting psychosocial dimensions of care—an imbalance still visible in developing nations like India, where awareness, regulation, and counselling infrastructure remain weak.

Mental Health in India: The Current Landscape

• • According to the National Mental Health Survey (2015–16) by NIMHANS, about 10.6% of Indian adults suffer from some form of mental disorder. Later studies suggest that 15% of adults require professional intervention.
  • Urban areas show a higher prevalence (13.5%) than rural ones (6.9%)—a reflection of urban isolation, work stress, and lifestyle pressures.
  • The Global Burden of Disease Study (1990–2017) published in The Lancet found that one in seven Indians aged 15–49 experiences mental disorders, making them a major contributor to India’s non-fatal disease burden.
  • A 2023 study in the National Library of Medicine reiterated that around 15% of Indians face mental health problems, while suicide remains among the leading causes of death for young people.
  • Significantly, the Economic Survey 2024–25 recognised mental health as integral to sustaining India’s demographic dividend—linking emotional well-being directly to national productivity and human capital.

Treatment Gaps and Challenges:

Despite rising awareness, India faces a massive treatment gap—between 70% to 90% of individuals with mental disorders receive no formal care. The reasons include:

• • Persistent stigma and social taboos
  • Lack of awareness and early diagnosis
  • Inadequate infrastructure and workforce shortages

According to the Indian Journal of Psychiatry, India has only 0.75 psychiatrists per 100,000 people, far below the WHO-recommended 3 per 100,000.

Mental health funding and research allocations remain minimal, and services are heavily urban-centric.

Socioeconomic barriers—linked to class, caste, education, and income—further restrict access. Post-liberalisation work culture, digital overload, and the COVID-19 pandemic have accelerated anxiety, depression, and burnout across social strata.

Government Policies and Institutional Initiatives:

1. National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), 1982

India became one of the first developing nations to launch a dedicated mental health programme.

The NMHP aimed to integrate mental health into general healthcare and expand access at the community level.

Its District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) now covers 767 districts, providing:

• • • Outpatient psychiatric care
    • Counselling services
    • Suicide prevention programmes
    • 10-bedded inpatient facilities at district hospitals

2. NIMHANS Act, 2012

The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, was declared an Institute of National Importance under this Act.

It reinforced India’s leadership in mental health research, education, and capacity building, positioning NIMHANS as a global knowledge hub.

3. Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016

Replacing the 1995 law, this Act expanded the definition of disability to include mental illness, aligning India’s framework with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

It enshrined legal protection, dignity, and non-discrimination for individuals with psychosocial disabilities.

4. Mental Healthcare Act (MHCA), 2017

A landmark reform, the MHCA 2017:

• • • Guarantees every individual the right to affordable and quality mental healthcare
    • Decriminalises suicide, treating it as a mental health issue, not a criminal offence
    • Stresses patient consent, confidentiality, and community-based rehabilitation

This Act positioned India among the few nations with a rights-based mental health law.

5. National Health Policy, 2017

The policy identified mental health as a national priority and advocated integration into primary healthcare.

Through Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs), basic psychiatric medicines, counselling, and referral services are now available at the grassroots.

6. National Suicide Prevention Strategy, 2022

Introduced by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, this aims to reduce suicide mortality by 10% by 2030.

Key focus areas include:

• • • Early detection and school-based screening
    • 24×7 crisis helplines
    • Community-based interventions for high-risk groups (students, farmers, youth)

7. Digital Mental Health Revolution: Tele MANAS

India’s mental health system has entered a digital era with the National Tele Mental Health Programme (Tele MANAS) launched in October 2022.

It offers free, 24×7 mental health support through toll-free numbers 14416 / 1800-89-14416, available in 20 Indian languages.

As of February 2025:

• • • 1.8 million+ calls handled
    • 53 Tele MANAS Cells, 23 Mentoring Institutes, and 5 Regional Centres operational
    • Tele MANAS mobile app (2024) launched for self-care tools, stress management, and video consultations

The WHO has recognised Tele MANAS as a scalable, inclusive model for community-based mental healthcare. It has also absorbed the earlier KIRAN Helpline (2020) to streamline services.

8. Capacity Building and Workforce Development

To address the human resource deficit:

• • • 25 Centres of Excellence and 47 postgraduate departments in mental health have been established.
    • The iGOT-Diksha platform is training doctors, nurses, and community workers to identify and manage mental disorders at the grassroots, expanding India’s mental health workforce.

Economic Survey 2024–25: Mental Health as Human Capital:

The Survey underlined that mental well-being underpins productivity and economic growth.

Its key recommendations:

• • Introduce mental health education in schools to build early resilience.
  • Implement workplace mental health policies to tackle burnout and long working hours.
  • Expand digital services like Tele MANAS and AI-based mental health tools for accessibility.

By positioning mental health as a pillar of human capital, India signalled a shift from curative to preventive and community-driven care.

Conclusion:

India’s mental health journey mirrors its broader social evolution—from superstition and silence to understanding and systemic reform. By combining ancient holistic wisdom with modern medicine and digital outreach, India stands poised to build a compassionate, inclusive mental healthcare system. A nation that prioritises mental well-being creates not only healthier citizens but also a more empathetic and resilient society.