The latest survey by India’s National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) found that nearly 150 million Indians are in need of mental health care services, but fewer than 30 million seek care. “More than 10% of the population has a diagnosable mental health or substance use disorder. Mental health is paramount and getting treatment for mental disorders is not a luxury but a necessity,” Pratima Murthy, director of NIMHANS. (Also read: 10 easy tips to manage your mental health)
The National Mental Health Survey looked at topics such as mental morbidity, which is the physical and psychological deterioration that results from a psychological condition. He also analyzed neurosis and stress disorders. Alarmingly, the survey concluded that 1% of the sample size is at high risk for suicide.
In 2017, a mental health survey in India by the Lancet medical journal showed that diagnoses of psychological disorders doubled between 1990 and 2017.
There are not enough mental health professionals
In India, mental health disorders often remain hidden as there is a lack of education and awareness about psychological disorders.
“Many children and young people experience mental health problems in India. Yet social stigmas and negative attitudes towards mental health prevent young people from seeking the support they need. It is time to break the silence on health and illness.” mental health,” Arjan de Wagt, a deputy representative of UNICEF India, told DW.
There are also not enough mental health professionals to treat people seeking help. This is especially true in rural areas of India.
According to the Indian Journal of Psychiatry, there are only 0.75 psychiatrists per 100,000 patients in India. A better ratio would be 3 to 100,000, the magazine said.
But even this number is low compared to countries like Germany, where there are more than 13 psychiatrists per 100,000 patients as of 2015, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
And despite data showing an increase in mental health problems, the Indian Ministry of Health in 2022 allocated less than 1% of its budget to directly treat psychological illnesses.
Prioritizing mental health
“India needs a decentralized approach to mental health that is not government-led,” Nelson Vinod Moses of the Indian Foundation for Suicide Prevention told DW.
“Offering subsidies and grants to open clinics, hospitals, technological innovations, research, public health campaigns and peer-based interventions is the need of the hour,” he added.
Anjali Nagpal, a psychiatrist based in Delhi, told DW that policies need to be enacted to make mental health treatment a national priority, which will then have a positive effect in tackling other ailments.
“Minimizing stigma will help not only reduce the financial burden due to mental health illnesses, but also help the government achieve its goals in other medical fields such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, hypertension and cardiology, which are affected by going through mental health high, Nagpal said.
Economic output was also affected
During the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a marked increase in mental health problems globally. In India, mental health problems were especially noted among white-collar workers.
Last month, a comprehensive survey by Deloitte, a management consulting firm, found that 47% of professionals surveyed consider workplace-related stress to be the most important factor affecting their mental health, followed by financial challenges.
The report estimated that mental health problems cost Indian employers around $14 billion per year due to absenteeism, lower productivity and attrition.
The WHO estimates that mental health problems cost the global economy $1 trillion annually in lost productivity.
The Deloitte study also found that 80% of India’s workforce reported mental health problems in the past year. Despite these alarming figures, the report says that social stigmas around mental health problems prevented 39% of affected respondents from taking action to manage their symptoms.
For World Mental Health Day earlier this month, the Indian Ministry of Health launched a 24-hour mental health service called Mental Health Tele Assistance and Networks in States (Tele-MANAS).
Its goal is to increase access to psychiatric care throughout the country, including in hard-to-reach areas.
Callers are connected online with mental health specialists, such as clinical psychologists, psychiatric social workers, psychiatric nurses, or psychiatrists.
“We recognize the mental health crisis in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. If a caller needs in-person services, they will be referred to a health and wellness center or primary health center or tertiary care center,” the Ministry of Health said. an official told DW.
If you are experiencing severe emotional stress or suicidal thoughts, do not hesitate to seek professional help. You can find information on where to find such help, no matter where you live in the world, on this website: https://www.befrienders.org/.
Edited by: Wesley Rahn
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