Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare addressed concerns regarding mental health issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. While the Union Government does not maintain centralized data on mental health cases related to the pandemic, several initiatives were undertaken. These include helplines, guidelines, media advocacy, capacity building, and integration of mental health services into primary healthcare. The National Tele Mental Health Programme (Tele MANAS), launched on October 10, 2022, further improves access to mental health services.
Key Points / Main Content:
COVID-19 Mental Health Initiatives:
* A 24/7 helpline was established to provide psychosocial support to various demographics.
* Guidelines and advisories on managing mental health issues were issued for different societal segments.
* Advocacy efforts utilized media platforms to promote stress and anxiety management.
* NIMHANS issued detailed guidelines for mental healthcare during the pandemic.
* Online capacity building of health workers was conducted by NIMHANS via the iGOT Diksha platform.
National Mental Health Programme (NMHP):
* The District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) has been sanctioned in 767 districts, supported through the National Health Mission.
* DMHP provides outpatient services, assessment, counselling, psychosocial interventions, and continuing care at Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs).
* Ten-bedded inpatient facilities are available at the district level.
Integration with Primary Healthcare:
* Over 1.77 lakh Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) have been upgraded to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
* Mental health services are included in the service packages offered at these centers.
* Guidelines and training manuals for mental, neurological, and substance use disorders (MNS) have been released for Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
National Tele Mental Health Programme (Tele MANAS):
* Launched on October 10, 2022, to improve access to mental health services.
* As of July 31, 2025, 36 States/UTs have established 53 Tele MANAS Cells, handling approximately 24 lakh calls.
* A Tele MANAS Mobile Application was launched on October 10, 2024, offering comprehensive support for mental health issues.
* Video consultation facility has been added to Tele MANAS.
Impact Analysis:
Citizens:
* Impact: Increased access to mental health support and services through helplines, teleconsultations, and integrated primary healthcare.
* Action Required: Utilize available resources such as the Tele MANAS helpline and mobile application for mental health support.
Healthcare Workers:
* Impact: Enhanced capacity to provide mental health support through online training and access to guidelines.
* Action Required: Participate in training programs offered by NIMHANS and implement guidelines for mental healthcare in their respective settings.
State/UT Governments:
* Impact: Support provided through the National Health Mission to implement the DMHP and establish Tele MANAS Cells.
* Action Required: Establish and maintain Tele MANAS Cells, integrate mental health services into primary healthcare, and implement the DMHP in their respective regions.
Key Entities Referenced
COVID19: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic, which has impacted the mental health of the population.
National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences NIMHANS, Bengaluru: A premier institution for mental health and neurosciences in Bengaluru, Karnataka, that provided guidelines for mental healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic.
National Mental Health Programme NMHP: A government initiative implemented to address mental health issues in the country.
District Mental Health Programme DMHP: A component of the NMHP, implemented in districts across the country to provide mental health services.
National Health Mission: A centrally sponsored scheme of the Government of India that provides support to States/UTs for implementing the DMHP.
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs: Upgraded Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) providing comprehensive primary health care, including mental health services.
Mental, Neurological, and substance use disorders MNS: A range of disorders addressed at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, with guidelines and training manuals released under Ayushman Bharat.
National Tele Mental Health Programme: A government initiative launched to improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services in the country.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 3414
TO BE ANSWERED ON08THAUGUST,2025
MENTALHEALTH RELATEDTOCORONAPANDEMIC
†3414.SHRIASHOKKUMARRAWAT:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) the total number of cases received by the Union Government with regard mental health
issues due tocorona pandemicinthe country;
(b) whether the Government has formulated any scheme to address the said health issue in
the county;and
(c)if so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND
FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) to (c) The details of cases regarding mental health issues due to corona pandemic in the
countryisnot maintainedcentrally.
However, realizing the impact that COVID-19 may have on the mental health of the
people,the Government hadtakena numberof steps, including–
(i) Setting up of a 24/7 helpline to provide psychosocial support, by mental health
professionals, to the entire affected population, divided into different target
groupsviz children,adult,elderly, women andhealthcareworkers.
(ii) Issuance of guidelines/ advisories on management of mental health issues,
cateringtodifferentsegments of the society.
(iii) Advocacy through various media platforms in the form of creative and
audiovisual materials on managing stress and anxiety, and promoting an
environmentof support andcare for all.
(iv) Issuance and dissemination of detailed guidelines by the National Institute of
Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru- "Mental Health in
the times of COVID-19 Pandemic - Guidance for General Medical and
SpecializedMental HealthCare Settings".
(v) All the guidelines, advisories and advocacy material can be accessed on
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare website under “Behavioural Health –
Psychosocial helpline” (https://www.mohfw.gov.in/).
(vi) Online capacity building of health workers by NIMHANS in providing
psychosocial support andtrainingthrough (iGOT)-Diksha platform.Further, the Government has also taken comprehensive measures to address mental
healthissues inthe countryincludingthose arising due toCOVID-19 pandemic.
The Government is implementing the National Mental Health Programme
(NMHP) in the country. 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, 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 beddedin-patientfacilityat the District level.
The Government is also taking steps to strengthen mental healthcare services at
primary healthcare level. The Government has upgraded more than 1.77 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.
Besides the above, the Government has launched a “National Tele Mental
HealthProgramme” on 10thOctober, 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 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
callingfacility.
***