Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : The number of people suffering from depression and other mental illness along with the related casualties is not maintained centrally. However, the Government had undertaken a National Mental Health Survey through the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, in 12 States of the country.
As per the survey report released on December 26, 2016, 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: The prevalence of mental morbidity is high in 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,N nurosis 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, and nearly 50% of persons with major depressive disorders reported difficulties in carrying out their daily activitie.
The Government of India is implementing the District Mental Health programme (DMHP) under the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) in 517 districts of the country to provide mental health services including prevention, promotion and long term continuing care at different levels of district healthcare delivery system.
To address the acute shortage of qualified mental health professionals in the country, the Government, under NMHP, is implementing manpower development schemes for establishment of Centres of Excellence and strengthening/ establishment of Post Graduate (PG) Departments in mental health specialties.
Till date, support has been provided for establishment of 25 Centres of Excellence and strengthening/ establishment of 47 Post Graduate (PG) Departments in mental health specialties in the country. The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare) Anupriya Patel stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on March 16, 2018, according to a PIB release.