**Executive Summary:**
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare addresses Postpartum Depression (PPD) in response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3261. While central data on PPD cases isn't maintained, the government utilizes various programs like the National Health Mission and National Mental Health Programme to address maternal mental health. Initiatives include screening during postnatal home visits, strengthening mental health services at primary healthcare levels, and the National Tele Mental Health Programme launched on October 10, 2022, with further developments as of July 31, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Data and Assessment:**
* Centralized data on Postpartum Depression (PPD) cases is not maintained.
* National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) 2016 indicates a 5.72% prevalence of depressive disorders in females over 18.
* Auxiliary Nurses and Midwifery (ANM) and Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) routinely assess postpartum mothers' health, including mental health, during home visits.
* Six postnatal home visits by ANM and ASHA include screening for PPD, referral to appropriate facilities under Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA).
* **National Mental Health Programme (NMHP):**
* The NMHP includes postpartum mothers, with the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) implemented in 767 districts.
* DMHP provides outpatient services, assessment, counseling, psychosocial interventions, and support at Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs).
* Provision for 10-bedded inpatient facilities at the district level.
* **Strengthening Primary Healthcare:**
* Upgraded over 1.77 lakh Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
* Mental health services added to Comprehensive Primary Health Care at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
* Released operational guidelines and training manuals for Mental, Neurological, and substance use disorders (MNS) at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
* **Tertiary Care and Institutions:**
* Sanctioned 25 Centres of Excellence under NMHP to increase PG intake in mental health specialties.
* Supported 19 Government medical colleges/institutions to strengthen 47 PG Departments in mental health Specialties.
* 47 Government-run mental hospitals, including 3 Central Mental Health Institutions: NIMHANS Bengaluru, LGBRIMH Tezpur, and CIP Ranchi.
* Mental Health Services are also provisioned in all AIIMS.
* **National Tele Mental Health Programme (Tele MANAS):**
* Launched on October 10, 2022, to improve access to mental health services.
* 36 States/UTs have set up 53 Tele MANAS Cells, handling approximately 24 lakh calls as of July 31, 2025.
* Launched Tele MANAS Mobile Application on October 10, 2024, offering support for mental health issues.
* Introduced video consultation facility under Tele MANAS.
**Impact Analysis:**
**Healthcare Providers (ANM, ASHA, Doctors, Counselors):**
* *Impact:* Increased responsibilities in screening, referral, and management of postpartum depression. Requires adherence to new guidelines and protocols, and utilization of resources such as Tele MANAS.
* *Action Required:* Training on updated guidelines and protocols, utilization of Tele MANAS platform, and proper referral of PPD cases.
**Postpartum Mothers:**
* *Impact:* Enhanced access to mental health screening, counseling, and treatment through home visits, primary healthcare centers, and Tele MANAS.
* *Action Required:* Engage with healthcare providers during postnatal visits, utilize Tele MANAS services for mental health support.
**State Governments/UTs:**
* *Impact:* Need to implement and support the National Mental Health Programme, including the DMHP, and Tele MANAS within their jurisdictions.
* *Action Required:* Operationalize DMHP in sanctioned districts, establish and maintain Tele MANAS Cells, and integrate mental health services into primary healthcare.
**National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) and Other Mental Health Institutions:**
* *Impact:* Continued role in conducting surveys, providing expertise, and offering tertiary care facilities for complex cases of PPD.
* *Action Required:* Support the implementation of national programs, provide training and resources, and conduct research on postpartum depression.
Key Entities Referenced
Postpartum Depression: A mental health condition affecting women after childbirth, characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, and fatigue.
National Mental Health Survey NMHS: A survey conducted in 2016 by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, to assess the prevalence of mental disorders in India.
National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences NIMHANS, Bangalore: A premier institute for mental health and neurosciences located in Bangalore, Karnataka, responsible for conducting research and providing mental health services.
National Health Mission: A government initiative to improve the health status of the population, including maternal and child health.
Auxiliary Nurses and Midwifery ANM: Healthcare workers who provide maternal and child health services at the community level under the National Health Mission.
Accredited Social Health Activist ASHA: Community health workers who create awareness and facilitate access to healthcare services, including postnatal care, under the National Health Mission.
Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan PMSMA: A government program to provide free and comprehensive antenatal care to pregnant women.
National Mental Health Programme NMHP: A government initiative to strengthen mental health services and integrate them into the healthcare system.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 3261
TO BE ANSWERED ON08THAUGUST,2025
CASES OFPOSTPARTUMDEPRESSION
3261. SHRISHAFIPARAMBIL:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) the details of women reported with Postpartum Depression during the last five years,
yearwise andState-wise;
(b) whether the Government is aware of the relationship between suicide of mothers and
PostpartumDepression inthe countryandif so,the detailsthereof; and
(c)whether the Government hastakenany initiativestocontrol the incidenceof Postpartum
Depression andif so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND
FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) to (c) 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 infemalesoverthe age of 18 yearsisabout 5.72%.
Under National Health Mission, Auxiliary Nurses and Midwifery (ANM) and
Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) routinely assess the health issues of
postpartum mothersincludingmentalhealthduring home visits.
Following a mother's discharge from a healthcare facility, ANM and ASHAconduct 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
Postnatalcare scheme, ASHAisprovidedincentive for timelymanagement.
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 CommunityHealth Centre (CHC) and Primary Health Centre (PHC) levels, inter- alia, include
outpatientservices, assessment, counselling/psycho-social interventions, continuingcare
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-patientfacilityat the district level.
The Government is also taking steps to strengthen mentalhealthcare services at primary
healthcarelevel.The Government hasupgradedmore than1.77lakhSubHealthCentres
(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 ambitof 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 19Government medical colleges/institutions to
strengthen 47PGDepartmentsinmentalhealthSpecialties.
There are 47 Government run mental hospitals in the country, including 3 Central
Mental Health Institutions, viz. National Institute of Mental Healthand 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 inallAIIMS.
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 31.07.2025, 36 States/ UTs have set
up 53 Tele MANAS Cells and have started tele mental health services. Approx 24 lakhs
callshave beenhandledonthe 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
alreadyexisting audiocallingfacility.
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