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GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 5727
TOBE ANSWERED ON27thMARCH, 2026
MENTALHEALTHCAREINTEGRATION
5727. SMT.POONAMBEN HEMATBHAIMAADAM:
Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased tostate:
(a) whether the Government has taken steps to integrate mental healthcare into the general
healthcare system andmake it accessible toall;
(b) if so, the detailsthereof;
(c) whether the Government has introduced digital initiatives to improve access to mental
health services inthe country; and
(d) if so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND
FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) to (d) The Government is implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP)
in the country. The District Mental HealthProgramme (DMHP) componentof the NMHPhas
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 mentaldisorders, drugs, outreachservices, 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 integrate 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 beenreleasedunderthe 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 19
Government medical colleges/institutions to strengthen 47 PG Departments in mental health
Specialties.
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.
The Government has launched a “National Tele Mental Health Programme” (NTMHP) on
10thOctober, 2022,thatfunctionsasthe digitalarm of the District Mental HealthProgramme
to provide universal access to equitable, accessible, affordable and quality mental health care
through 24 x 7 tele-mental health counselling services. For this, a toll-free number (14416)
hasbeenset up across the country.
As on 03.03.2026, 36 States/ UTs have set up 53 Tele MANAS Cells. Tele-MANAS services
are available in 20 languages based on language opted by States. More than 34.34 lakh calls
have beenhandledonthe helpline numbersince inception.
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
audiocallingfacility.
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