NIMHANS and Mental health in India

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Context:

The finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the creation of NIMHANS-2, India’s second National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, to reduce regional imbalance in access to advanced psychiatric care.

National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences:

The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) is a premier multidisciplinary medical and academic institution specializing in mental health and neurosciences. It is recognized as an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India.

Objective of NIMHANS:

Expand access to advanced mental healthcare: Provide tertiary-level psychiatric and neurological services to populations that currently lack nearby national-level facilities, especially in underserved regions.

Correct regional imbalance: Reduce overdependence on southern India’s institutions by establishing a national apex centre in another region, improving geographical equity in care and research.

Promote research in neurosciences & mental health: Advance cutting-edge research in brain sciences, psychiatric disorders, addiction studies, and community mental health models relevant to India’s demographic profile.

Strengthen digital & community mental health: Support tele-mental health networks and develop scalable community-based care models integrated with primary healthcare.

Current status of mental health issue in India:

• Nearly 13.7% of Indians have experienced a mental disorder during their lifetime, and about 15% of adults need intervention for mental health issues. (Source: PIB)
• Over 80% of people with mental illness in India do not receive timely or adequate care, reflecting one of the widest treatment gaps globally.
• India has a severe shortage of mental health professionals, with less than recommended psychiatrists and psychologists per capita.
• Low mental health literacy and social stigma prevent many from seeking help.
• Tele-MANAS national helpline provides free 24×7 counselling, and has handled millions of calls, including crisis and suicide-related support.

Reasons for rising mental health issues in India:

Rapid socio-economic change: Fast urbanisation, migration, and competitive lifestyles have weakened traditional social support systems and increased chronic stress, insecurity, and feelings of isolation.

Digital overuse and social media pressure: Excessive screen time, online comparison, and cyberbullying are contributing to anxiety, low self-esteem, sleep disruption, and emotional distress, particularly among adolescents and young adults.

Academic stress: High-stakes examinations, career uncertainty, and intense parental and societal expectations are creating persistent psychological pressure among India’s large youth population.

Employment insecurity: Unemployment, underemployment, rising living costs, and indebtedness among vulnerable groups such as farmers and small entrepreneurs are leading to long-term stress, depression, and in extreme cases, suicides.

Breakdown of traditional family structures: The shift from joint to nuclear families, migration for work, and weakening community bonds have reduced emotional cushioning, leaving the elderly, women, and youth more vulnerable to loneliness and mental distress.

Exposure to trauma and emergencies: Frequent exposure to road accidents, natural disasters, violence, and medical emergencies results in psychological conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression.

Impact of poor mental health:

• Impact on physical health: Poor mental health increases the risk of chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension, while also weakening immunity and reducing overall life expectancy.
• Impact on productivity and economy: Mental health disorders reduce concentration, decision-making ability, and work efficiency, leading to absenteeism, presenteeism, and significant economic losses at both household and national levels.
• Impact on education and youth development: Children and adolescents facing mental health challenges often show poor academic performance, school dropouts, low confidence, and impaired social skills, affecting their long-term human capital formation.
• Impact on families and relationships: Mental illness can strain family dynamics, increase caregiving burdens, trigger domestic conflict, and weaken emotional bonds within households.

Challenges in addressing mental issue in India:

• Persistent social stigma and low awareness: Despite increasing dialogue, deep-rooted stigma continues to discourage help-seeking individuals, which is leading to a treatment gap where 80-85% of individuals with psychiatric disorders unable to receive timely or appropriate care.
• Low mental health awareness: Limited mental health literacy prevents people from recognising early symptoms, understanding treatment options, and supporting affected individuals appropriately.
• Severe shortage of mental health professionals: India has a severe deficit of specialists, with only around 0.75 psychiatrists per 100,000 people, far below WHO recommendations, and similarly low ratios of psychologists and social workers, limiting access to quality care. 
• Urban-centric services: Most mental health facilities are concentrated in cities, leaving rural and remote populations with little or no access to specialised services.
• Large treatment gap: A significant proportion of individuals with mental health conditions remain untreated due to cost barriers, lack of services, and delayed diagnosis.
• Inadequate public funding: Mental health receives a very small share of the overall health budget, limiting infrastructure development, community outreach, and human resource expansion.

Government Initiatives for Mental Health in India:

National Mental Health Programme (NMHP):

The Government of India launched the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) in 1982 to ensure availability and accessibility of minimum mental healthcare for all, particularly the vulnerable and underprivileged, and to integrate mental health into general healthcare systems. 

Key Features of NMHP

• Provides community-level mental health services and outreach. 
• Includes training of general physicians and health workers to identify and treat common mental illnesses. 
• Public awareness and stigma-reduction efforts are part of programme objectives.

Tele MANAS (Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States):

Tele-MANAS is India’s national tele-mental health service, launched in 2022 to provide free, round-the-clock mental health counselling and support across the country.

Objectives

• Provide immediate psychological support and crisis counselling
• Reduce the treatment gap in mental healthcare
• Ensure access in remote and underserved areas
• Offer early intervention to prevent suicides and severe mental illness

Policy framework:

• The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 provides a rights-based legal framework, ensuring access to care, protecting rights of persons with mental illness, and aligning with global conventions like the UNCRPD. 
• The National Mental Health Policy, 2014 supports participatory and quality mental health service provisions. 

Key measures to address mental health issue in India:

Strengthening primary healthcare integration: Mental health services should be fully integrated into primary healthcare through Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres, enabling early detection, counselling, and treatment at the community level.

Expanding human resources for mental health: India must increase training seats in psychiatry, psychology, and psychiatric social work, while empowering general physicians and community health workers with basic mental health skills.

Scaling up digital mental health services: Platforms such as Tele MANAS should be expanded with better internet infrastructure, regional language support, and stronger referral linkages to on-ground facilities.

Increasing public funding: A higher allocation for mental health within the health budget is necessary to build infrastructure, recruit professionals, and run sustained awareness and outreach programmes.

Conclusion:

National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) represents India’s apex effort in advancing mental healthcare, training, and neuroscience research, and the move to expand such institutional capacity signals a growing recognition that mental health is central to national well-being and productivity. Strengthening institutions like NIMHANS, alongside community and digital initiatives, is crucial for reducing the treatment gap, tackling stigma, and ensuring equitable access to quality mental healthcare across the country.

Source: Down to earth