Economic Survey 2024–25 calls for integrated, technology-driven mental health reforms across India
Ziraat Times News Desk
New Delhi: Mental health has emerged as one of India’s most pressing public health challenges, with NIMHANS data showing that one in every eight Indians — roughly 14% of the population — lives with some form of mental disorder, including depression, anxiety, and substance use. The Government of India is now intensifying efforts to make mental healthcare accessible, affordable, and stigma-free, aligning policy, technology, and community action to safeguard the nation’s mental well-being.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in seven people globally — about 1.1 billion individuals — experience mental disorders. In India, the National Mental Health Survey (2015–16) conducted by NIMHANS revealed that 15% of adults require active mental health intervention, but nearly 70–92% go untreated due to stigma, lack of awareness, or shortage of professionals.
The Economic Survey 2024–25 underscores that India’s demographic dividend can only be realised through mental well-being alongside physical and educational health. It calls for strengthening school-based wellness programmes, workplace mental health policies, and digital mental health platforms such as Tele MANAS, which have become critical to early intervention and outreach.
Mental health disorders account for about 5.2% of the global disease burden, with depression and anxiety leading the list. NIMHANS research shows women experience nearly twice the rate of common mental disorders as men, while youth aged 15–29 remain the most vulnerable demographic.
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB 2023) reported 1.71 lakh suicides in India, with males comprising nearly three-fourths of all cases — a stark indicator of the urgency to expand mental health care and prevention mechanisms.
WHO data links poor mental health to higher risks of cardiovascular disease, chronic pain, and reduced life expectancy. A Lancet Psychiatry (2025) study noted that depression raises the likelihood of heart disease by 72%. Globally, mental health issues cost the economy nearly USD 1 trillion annually in productivity loss, projected to rise to USD 16 trillion by 2030.
India’s mental health response is built upon the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) launched in 1982 and its District Mental Health Programme (DMHP), now covering 767 districts. These initiatives provide outpatient services, counselling, suicide prevention, and awareness drives.
The National Suicide Prevention Strategy (2022) aims to reduce suicide mortality by 10% by 2030, targeting students, farmers, and young adults through community-based outreach and crisis helplines.
Under the Ayushman Bharat initiative, mental healthcare is integrated into Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, ensuring access at over 1.75 lakh primary health centres. The PM-JAY insurance scheme also covers 22 mental health procedures, providing crucial financial protection to families.
The flagship Tele MANAS (Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States) programme, launched in 2022, has transformed mental health access. Through toll-free numbers 14416 and 1-800-891-4416, it offers 24/7 mental health counselling in all 36 states and UTs.
As of October 2025, Tele MANAS has handled over 28 lakh calls, linking individuals to trained counsellors and specialists. The Tele MANAS App, introduced in 2024, further allows users to access self-care tools, video consultations, and personalised support — a model now recognised by the WHO as an example of scalable digital healthcare.
India currently has 47 government-run mental hospitals and several Centres of Excellence, including NIMHANS Bengaluru and CIP Ranchi, that lead in research, training, and treatment. Under the Manpower Development Scheme, 25 Centres of Excellence and 47 postgraduate departments have been upgraded to produce psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychiatric social workers.
Digital training platforms like iGOT-Diksha have trained more than 1.7 lakh healthcare workers in mental health awareness, screening, and primary intervention.
Aligned with the WHO Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan (2013–2030), India’s model integrates digital innovation with community-based care. Experts stress that sustained investment and public awareness are crucial to sustaining these reforms.
As WHO India Representative Dr. Roderico H. Ofrin noted, “India’s approach of linking primary care with digital mental health services offers a blueprint for other nations.”
With over one in eight Indians living with mental health challenges, the government’s ongoing reforms — from Tele MANAS to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs — represent a significant step toward a mentally resilient and inclusive India.
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