**Executive Summary**
The Government of India is strengthening mental health services through the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) and tele-initiatives like Tele MANAS to enhance accessibility across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. Key actions include upgrading 1.83 lakh healthcare centers to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and implementing mandatory postnatal mental health screenings. As of March 2026, tele-mental health services have handled over 34 lakh calls, supported by a specialized mobile application and 53 operational Tele MANAS cells.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **District and Primary Healthcare Integration**
* The District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) is sanctioned for 767 districts, providing outpatient services, counseling, and drugs at CHC and PHC levels.
* District-level facilities include a provision for a 10-bedded in-patient ward.
* More than 1.83 lakh Sub Health Centres and Primary Health Centres have been upgraded to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) to provide comprehensive primary mental health care.
* Operational guidelines and training manuals for Mental, Neurological, and Substance use disorders (MNS) have been released for AAM staff.
* **Tertiary Care and Capacity Building**
* 25 Centres of Excellence have been sanctioned to provide tertiary treatment and increase the intake of postgraduate (PG) students in mental health specialties.
* Support has been extended to 19 Government medical colleges to strengthen 47 PG Departments.
* Mental health services are provisioned in all AIIMS and 47 government-run mental hospitals nationwide.
* **Maternal and Postpartum Mental Health**
* While postpartum depression data is not maintained centrally, the 2016 National Mental Health Survey indicates a 5.72% prevalence of depressive disorders in adult females.
* ANMs and ASHAs are mandated to conduct six postnatal home visits to screen mothers for depression.
* Identified cases are referred to healthcare facilities under the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA).
* **Tele-Mental Health Initiatives**
* The National Tele Mental Health Programme (Tele MANAS) was launched on October 10, 2022, and currently operates 53 cells across 36 States/UTs.
* The Tele MANAS Mobile Application, launched on October 10, 2024, provides support ranging from general well-being to mental disorders.
* Services have been upgraded from audio-only calling to include video consultation facilities.
**Impact Analysis**
**Postpartum Mothers**
**Impact**
Mothers receive systematic mental health monitoring during the critical postnatal period through home-based screenings and established referral pathways.
**Action Required**
Engage with ANMs and ASHAs during the six scheduled postnatal visits and seek further treatment at PMSMA-linked facilities if symptoms are identified.
**ASHAs and ANMs**
**Impact**
These workers are now primary screeners for mental health; ASHAs specifically receive financial incentives for timely management and referral of postnatal cases.
**Action Required**
Conduct mandatory home visits, perform screenings using provided training manuals, and refer symptomatic patients to appropriate healthcare facilities.
**Medical Students and Institutions**
**Impact**
There is increased capacity for specialized education through the strengthening of 47 PG Departments and the establishment of 25 Centres of Excellence.
**Action Required**
Medical colleges must utilize sanctioned support to upgrade infrastructure and expand student intake in mental health specialties.
**General Public**
**Impact**
Citizens gain 24/7 access to mental health counseling via Tele MANAS and localized care through the upgraded Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
**Action Required**
Utilize the Tele MANAS helpline, video consultation facility, or mobile application for mental health support and counseling.
Key Entities Referenced
National Mental Health Programme (NMHP): The primary government framework for strengthening mental health services, including the District Mental Health Programme implemented in 767 districts.
National Tele Mental Health Programme (Tele MANAS): A digital initiative providing 24/7 mental health counseling and care services through a national helpline and mobile application.
National Health Mission (NHM): The scheme providing financial and technical support to States/UTs for implementing mental health initiatives and postnatal care screening.
Ayushman Bharat: The national healthcare scheme under which primary health centers are upgraded to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs to offer comprehensive mental health services.
National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS): A premier technical institution and Centre of Excellence responsible for national mental health surveys and specialized tertiary treatment.
Ministry of Women and Child Development
Government implements National Mental Health
Programme to strengthen mental health services
Government has also launched “National Tele Mental Health
Programme” and Tele MANAS Mobile Application
Posted On: 01 APR 2026 12:36PM by PIB Delhi
To strengthen mental health services, the Government of India implements National Mental Health
Programme (NMHP), which includes postpartum mothers. The District Mental Health Programme
(DMHP) component of the NMHP has been sanctioned for implementation in 767 districts for which
support is provided to States/UTs through the National Health Mission. Facilities made available under
DMHP at the Community Health Centre (CHC) and Primary Health Centre (PHC) levels, inter- alia,
include outpatient services, assessment, counselling/psycho-social interventions, continuing care and
support to persons with severe mental disorders, drugs, outreach services, ambulance services etc. In
addition to above services there is a provision of 10 bedded in-patient facility at the district level.
The Government is also taking steps to strengthen mental healthcare services at primary healthcare level.
The Government has upgraded more than 1.83 lakh Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health
Centres (PHCs) to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Mental health services have been added in the packages of
services under Comprehensive Primary Health Care provided at these Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
Operational guidelines and training manuals for various cadres on Mental, Neurological, and substance
use disorders (MNS) at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been released under the ambit of Ayushman
Bharat. Under the tertiary care component of NMHP, 25 Centres of Excellence have been sanctioned to
increase the intake of students in PG departments in mental health specialties as well as to provide tertiary
level treatment facilities. Further, the Government has also supported 19 Government medical
colleges/institutions to strengthen 47 PG Departments in mental health Specialties.
The details of women reported with Postpartum Depression in the country is not maintained centrally.
However, as per National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) conducted in 2016 by the National Institute of
Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore in 12 States of the country, the prevalence of
depressive disorders in females over the age of 18 years is about 5.72%. Under National Health Mission,
Auxiliary Nurses and Midwife (ANM) and Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) routinely assess the
health issues of postpartum mothers including mental health during home visits. Following a mother's
discharge from a healthcare facility, ANM and ASHA conduct six postnatal home visits to ensure
comprehensive postnatal care, which includes screening for postpartum depression. This evaluation
involves identifying symptoms and referring the mother to an appropriate healthcare facility under the
Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) and or the Extended-PMSMA. Under the
Optimization of Postnatal care scheme, ASHA is provided incentive for timely management.There are 47 Government run mental hospitals in the country, including 3 Central Mental Health
Institutions, viz. National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Lokopriya Gopinath
Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur, Assam and Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi.
Mental Health Services are also provisioned in all AIIMS.
Besides the above, the Government has launched a “National Tele Mental Health Programme” on 10th
October, 2022, to further improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services in the
country. As on 03.03.2026, 36 States/ UTs have set up 53 Tele MANAS Cells and have started tele mental
health services. Approx 34.34 lakhs calls have been handled on the helpline number.
The Government has also launched Tele MANAS Mobile Application on the occasion of World Mental
Health Day - October 10, 2024. Tele-MANAS Mobile Application is a comprehensive mobile platform
that has been developed to provide support for mental health issues ranging from well-being to mental
disorders. The Government has also launched the video consultation facility under Tele-MANAS, as
another upgrade to the already existing audio calling facility.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Women and Child Development Smt. Savitri
Thakur in Rajya Sabha in reply to a question.
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SS
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