Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare addresses concerns about postpartum depression (PPD) prevalence in India. While central data on PPD is not maintained, the government provides mental health support through various national programs. These include the National Health Mission, National Mental Health Programme, and Tele Mental Health Programme, aiming to improve access to mental health services for postpartum mothers.
Key Points / Main Content:
Data and Prevalence:
* Centralized data on the prevalence of PPD among mothers is not maintained.
* The National Mental Health Survey (2016) indicated a depressive disorder prevalence of about 5.72% in females over 18 in 12 states.
National Health Mission Initiatives:
* ANMs and ASHAs routinely assess postpartum mothers for health issues, including mental health, during home visits.
* Six postnatal home visits are conducted by ANMs and ASHAs to screen for PPD and refer mothers to appropriate facilities under PMSMA and/or Extended PMSMA.
* ASHA workers receive incentives for timely management under the Optimization of Postnatal care scheme.
National Mental Health Programme (NMHP):
* The NMHP includes support for postpartum mothers.
* The District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) operates in 767 districts, offering outpatient services, assessment, counselling, psychosocial interventions, and continuing care at CHC and PHC levels.
* DMHP includes provision for 10-bedded inpatient facilities at the district level.
Strengthening Primary Healthcare:
* Over 1.77 lakh SHCs and PHCs have been upgraded to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, incorporating mental health services into comprehensive primary healthcare.
* Operational guidelines and training manuals for MNS disorders at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been released.
Tertiary Care and Institutions:
* 25 Centres of Excellence have been sanctioned to increase PG student intake in mental health and provide tertiary treatment facilities.
* 47 PG Departments in mental health specialties in government medical colleges/institutions have been strengthened.
* There are 47 government-run mental hospitals, including three central institutions: NIMHANS (Bengaluru), LGBRIMH (Tezpur), and CIP (Ranchi).
* Mental health services are provisioned in all AIIMS.
National Tele Mental Health Programme:
* Launched on October 10, 2022, to improve access to mental health services.
* As of July 17, 2025, 36 States/UTs have set up 53 Tele MANAS Cells, handling over 23,82,000 calls.
* The Tele MANAS Mobile Application was launched on October 10, 2024, to provide mental health support.
* Video consultation facility has been launched under Tele MANAS.
Impact Analysis:
Postpartum Mothers:
* Impact: Improved access to screening, counselling, and treatment for postpartum depression through home visits, primary healthcare facilities, and tele-mental health services.
* Action Required: Participate in screening during home visits and utilize available mental health services if experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression.
ANM and ASHA Workers:
* Impact: Increased responsibility for screening and referral of postpartum mothers for mental health issues.
* Action Required: Routinely assess postpartum mothers for mental health issues during home visits and refer them to appropriate healthcare facilities when necessary. Follow updated operational guidelines and training manuals.
Healthcare Facilities (CHCs, PHCs, District Hospitals, Medical Colleges):
* Impact: Requirement to provide comprehensive mental health services, including outpatient, inpatient, and referral services.
* Action Required: Implement and strengthen mental health service provision, including training staff, providing necessary medications, and establishing referral pathways.
State and UT Governments:
* Impact: Responsibility for implementing and supporting the NMHP and DMHP, including setting up Tele MANAS Cells.
* Action Required: Provide support for the NMHP and DMHP by allocating resources and integrating mental health services into existing healthcare infrastructure. Ensure the establishment and effective operation of Tele MANAS Cells.
Mental Health Professionals:
* Impact: Increased demand for mental health services and opportunities for professional development and training.
* Action Required: Participate in training programs and provide quality mental health services at various levels of healthcare.
Key Entities Referenced
Postpartum Depression: A mood disorder that can affect women after childbirth, characterized by feelings of sadness, anxiety, and fatigue.
National Mental Health Survey NMHS: A survey conducted in 2016 by NIMHANS, Bangalore, to assess the prevalence of mental health issues in India.
National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences NIMHANS, Bangalore: A premier institution for mental health and neurosciences located in Bangalore, Karnataka.
National Health Mission: A government program to improve healthcare access and quality in India.
Auxiliary Nurses and Midwifery ANM: A cadre of healthcare workers who provide maternal and child health services in India.
Accredited Social Health Activist ASHA: A community health worker who provides basic healthcare services in rural India.
Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan PMSMA: A government initiative to provide quality antenatal care to pregnant women.
National Mental Health Programme NMHP: A government program to address mental health issues in India.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 955
TO BE ANSWERED ON25TH JULY, 2025
POSTPARTUMDEPRESSION AMONG WOMEN
955. SHRISHAFIPARAMBIL:
Willthe Ministerof HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the high prevalence of Postpartum Depression among
mothersinthe countryandif so, the details thereof,State/UTs-wise;
(b) the details of data on the prevalence of Postpartum Depression among mothers in the
country;
(c) whether the Government has anyplan to address the said serious issue which oftenleads to
suicide of mothersandkillingof their childreninthe country; and
(d) if so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND
FAMILYWELFARE
(SH.PRATAPRAOJADHAV)
(a) to (d) The data of the prevalence of Postpartum Depression among mothers in the country
is not maintained centrally. However, as per National Mental Health Survey (NMHS)
conductedin2016bythe National Institute of Mental HealthandNeurosciences (NIMHANS),
Bangalore in 12 States of the country, the prevalence of depressive disorders in females over
the age of 18yearsisabout 5.72%.
Under National Health Mission, Auxiliary Nurses and Midwifery (ANM) and Accredited
Social Health Activist (ASHA) routinely assess the health issues of postpartum mothers
includingmentalhealth 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,ASHAisprovidedincentivefor timely management.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 hasbeen 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-socialinterventions,continuingcareandsupporttopersonswithseverementaldisorders,
drugs, outreach services, ambulance services etc. In addition to above services there is a
provisionof10beddedin-patientfacilityattheDistrictlevel.
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 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 specialities 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 HealthServices are also provisioned inallAIIMS.
Besides the above,the Government has launcheda “National Tele Mental Health Programme”
on 10thOctober, 2022, to further improve access toquality mental health counselling and care
services in the country. As on 17.07.2025, 36 States/ UTs have set up 53 Tele MANAS Cells
and have started tele mental health services. More than 23,82,000 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
audiocallingfacility.
*****