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Mental Healthcare

Issues

Around 15% of India’s population suffer from poor mental health – and the number of people afflicted has been increasing steadily, from 125 million in 1990 to 197 million in 2017.

Suicide ranks as the second-biggest cause of death among Indian adults of working age.

India spent less than 1% of its total healthcare budget on mental health in 2017.

Underutilization of funds, low prioritization of mental health by individual Indian states, and low coverage of health insurance for mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) disorders.

The COVID-19 pandemic has only underscored the need for additional financing of mental health services.

Way Ahead

Effective and innovative mental health interventions can be scaled up quickly in order to improve mental healthcare delivery in India.

Embedding the awareness and detection of mental health problems

Counselling and referral into well-defined care pathways through frontline workers at the community level.

Conducting behavioural change communication campaigns to destigmatize mental health issues and to present options for care for both patients and caregivers.

Enabling anonymous methods of seeking help, such as helplines or apps.

Improving accessibility by leveraging digital tools and technologies.

Strengthening mental health service delivery at the primary and secondary care levels.

Using mobile-based (digital) decision support systems to improve patient management.

Improving adherence to care through psycho-social education

Setting up follow-up mechanisms or changes of treatment regimen with increased adherence.

India needs impact financing for mental healthcare to complement public funding and for mobilizing resources from private sector and philanthropy, to bring innovative mental healthcare delivery models to scale.

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