Initiatives Taken By Government To Tackle Mental Health Related Issues

Initiatives Taken By Government To Tackle Mental Health Related Issues

Subject : Schemes

Context:

As per the National Mental Health Survey conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore in 12 States of the country, 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 major findings of the survey are as under:

• The prevalence of mental morbidity is high in urban metropolitan areas.
• Mental disorders are closely linked to both causation and consequences of several non-communicable disorders (NCD).
• Nearly 1 in 40 and 1 in 20 persons suffer from past and current depression, respectively.
• Neurosis and stress related 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.

Initiative taken to tackle mental health:

National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) in 1982:

NMHP has 3 components:

• Treatment of Mentally ill
• Rehabilitation
• Prevention and promotion of positive mental health.

Aims:

• Prevention and treatment of mental and neurological disorders and their associated disabilities.
• Use of mental health technology to improve general health services.
• Application of mental health principles in total national development to improve quality of life.
• To address the burden of mental disorders, the Government of India is supporting implementation of the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) under the National Mental Health Programme in 704 districts of the country for detection, management and treatment of mental disorders/ illness
• Under the aegis of the School Health Programme under Ayushman Bharat, NCERT has developed a specific module on “Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health”, which has activities related to the mental health and well-being of students and teachers.
• The Ministry of Education has taken up a proactive initiative, named, ‘Manodarpan’, covering a wide range of activities to provide psychosocial support to students, teachers and families for Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing during the COVID outbreak and beyond

The Mental Health Care Act 2017 was passed on 7 April 2017 and came into force from 29 May 2018.

• It aims at decriminalizing the Attempt to Commit Suicide by seeking to ensure that the individuals who have attempted suicide are offered opportunities for rehabilitation from the government as opposed to being tried or punished for the attempt.
• The Act seeks to fulfill India’s international obligation pursuant to the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol.
• The 2017 Act recognizes the agency of people with mental illness, allowing them to make decisions regarding their health, given that they have the appropriate knowledge to do so.
• The Act aims to safeguard the rights of the people with mental illness, along with access to healthcare and treatment without discrimination from the government.
• Additionally, insurers are now bound to make provisions for medical insurance for the treatment of mental illness on the same basis as is available for the treatment of physical ailments.
• The Mental Health Care Act 2017 includes provisions for the registration of mental health related institutions and for the regulation of the sector.
• The Government constituted the Central Mental Health Authority under the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 on 04/12/2018
• Government of India has launched the National Tele Mental Health Programme (Tele MANAS) on 10th October 2022 to provide access to mental health care services to all through a centralized toll-free helpline
• IIT-M launched the ‘Kushal Programme’ which aims to foster closer associations between individual students and faculty members, creating a support network for students who may be struggling academically or emotionally.
• The institute has also launched a ‘Be Happy’ website (https://behappy.iitm.ac.in/) to provide resources and guidance to support mental health and overall well-being.