In view of the increasing cases of mental illness in the country, the Government has decided to frame the first-ever national policy on mental health envisaging a wide spectrum of issues concerning the sector plagued by acute shortage of psychiatrists.
Though India is yet to have a comprehensive survey of all states to determine the number of cases, experts say nearly five per cent of India’s population suffers from common mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has predicted that about 20 per cent of India’s population would suffer from some form of mental illness by 2020 due to reasons like stress, nuclear families and changing lifestyle.
“The proposed national policy will involve the country’s best experts in the field and cover the full range of complex issues linked to this branch of medicine,” said Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan at an event in Agra on Tuesday.
He announced the Government’s decision after a visit to the 155-year-old Institute of Mental Health and Hospital, Agra where he was moved by the plight of the mental patients. He also indicated that some more institutions replicating National Institute for Mental Health and Neurological Sciences, Bangalore are being considered.
The Minister said the proposed Universal Health Assurance Mission (UHAM) too focus on mental illnesses besides other medical issues. Universal Health Insurance, which will be a component of UHAM, will also cover those who need treatment for common problems.
He admitted that mental health services in the country remain a neglected area which needs immediate attention from the Government, policymakers, and civil society organisations. Despite the existence of a National Mental Health Programme since 1982 there has been a very little effort so far to provide mental health services, particularly in rural areas.
“There has been considerable progress in treatment methods for mental patients and their recovery rates have improved. Unfortunately, society still stigmatises those who suffer from routine psychiatric problems and so their treatment is either delayed or denied. We need to build up a social movement to change mindsets and focus on the human dimension of mental illnesses,” Hrashvardhan said.
To raise awareness among people about the disease which continues to be stigamised, the Minister also announced that October 10 would henceforth be observed throughout the country as National Mental Health Day.
Though the cases are on increase in the country due to various reasons, the country has only about 3,500 psychiatrists. Therefore, the government is confronted with the problem of lowering this gap significantly over the next decade, he added.