**Executive Summary**
The document is a response to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha on December 5th, 2025, regarding the prevalence of mental health conditions in India. It acknowledges the WHO's findings on suicide and details the Government's efforts, through the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) and other initiatives, to address the burden of mental disorders. These efforts include national surveys, the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP), Tele-MANAS services, and measures to increase mental health professionals.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Awareness of WHO Findings:**
* The Government is aware of the WHO report stating that suicide accounts for more than one in every 100 global deaths.
* **National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) Findings (2015-16):**
* Conducted in 12 States, indicating a 10.6% prevalence of mental disorders in adults over 18.
* Mental morbidity is higher in urban metropolitan areas.
* Mental disorders are linked to non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
* Nearly 1 in 40 and 1 in 20 suffer from past and current depression, respectively.
* Neurosis and stress related disorders affect 3.5% of the population, higher among females.
* 0.9% of the surveyed population were at high risk of suicide.
* 50% of persons with major depressive disorders reported difficulties in daily activities.
* **National Level Surveys/Studies/Assessments:**
* Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI): Data collection on health, social, and economic well-being of adults aged 45+ and their spouses.
* Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) Survey: Assessment of the extent and pattern of substance use in all 36 states/UTs.
* National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) Report: Annual data on accidental deaths and suicides in India.
* **National Mental Health Programme (NMHP):**
* Implemented nationwide to address the burden of mental disorders.
* District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) sanctioned in 767 districts.
* Services provided at Community Health Centres (CHC) and Primary Health Centres (PHC) include outpatient services, assessment, counselling, psycho-social interventions, continuing care, drugs, outreach services, and ambulance services.
* **Manpower Development Scheme:**
* 25 Centres of Excellence sanctioned to increase intake in PG departments in mental health specialties.
* Support provided to 19 Government medical colleges/institutions to strengthen 47 PG Departments.
* **Tele-MANAS (National Tele Mental Health Programme):**
* Launched on October 10, 2022, as a digital arm of DMHP for equitable, accessible, affordable, and quality mental healthcare.
* 24 x 7 tele-mental health counselling services via toll-free number (14416).
* As of November 27, 2025, 36 States/UTs have set up 53 Tele-MANAS Cells, available in 20 languages.
* More than 29,82,000 calls handled on the helpline number.
* Tele-MANAS Mobile Application launched to support mental health issues.
* Video consultation facility launched as an upgrade.
* **Increase in Medical Seats:**
* Increase in Medical Colleges from 387 to 818.
* UG seats increased from 51,348 to 1,28,875.
* PG seats increased from 31,185 to 82,059 since 2014.
* **Psychiatry in MBBS Curriculum:**
* Psychiatry is now a compulsory subject with a dedicated question paper in MBBS.
* Curriculum is competency based.
* Increased psychiatry teaching, clinical postings, and marks; mandatory psychiatry internship.
* **Increase in Psychiatrists:**
* Minimum Standard of Requirements for Post-Graduate Courses - 2023 (PGMSR-2023) issued on January 15, 2024.
* Reduced OPD requirements for starting/increasing MD (Psychiatry) seats.
* Reduced minimum bed requirements for starting MD (Psychiatry) course.
* **Clinical Psychology Courses:**
* 66 institutions/universities offer M.Phil Clinical Psychology course.
* B.Sc. Clinical Psychology (Hons.) course launched in 2024-25, with approval for 19 universities.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder**: General Public
**Impact:** Increased awareness of mental health issues, access to mental health services through NMHP and Tele-MANAS, and availability of mental health professionals.
**Action Required:** Utilize available resources like Tele-MANAS and mental health services at CHCs and PHCs.
**Stakeholder**: State Governments and Union Territories
**Impact:** Implementation of DMHP in districts, establishment of Tele-MANAS cells, and provision of support through the National Health Mission.
**Action Required:** Effectively implement DMHP, establish Tele-MANAS cells, and ensure accessibility of services at Community Health Centres (CHC) and Primary Health Centres (PHC).
**Stakeholder**: Medical Colleges and Institutions
**Impact:** Strengthening of PG Departments in mental health specialties.
**Action Required:** Increase intake of students in PG programs and provide tertiary level treatment facilities.
**Stakeholder**: National Medical Commission (NMC)
**Impact:** Increased seats in medical colleges. Psychiatry included in MBBS
**Action Required:** Implement competency-based curriculum and dedicated question paper in MBBS.
Key Entities Referenced
National Mental Health Programme (NMHP): A national program implemented by the Government of India to address the burden of mental disorders.
Tele MANAS: A digital mental health program including helpline and mobile application launched by the Government to provide accessible mental health support.
National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru: The institution through which the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) 2015-16 was conducted.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The ministry responsible for the National Mental Health Programme and related initiatives.
National Mental Health Survey (NMHS): A national-level assessment of the prevalence of mental health conditions in India.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1059
TOBE ANSWERED ON05TH DECEMBER, 2025
PREVALENCEOFMENTALHEALTH CONDITIONS
1059. THIRU DAYANIDHIMARAN:
Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the recent WHO study indicating that one in every 100
global deaths is due to suicide and that depression and anxiety are among the most common
underlyingconditionsandif so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has undertaken any national-level assessment of the prevalence of
mental health conditionsparticularly depression, anxiety andrelated disorders in the country and
if so, the detailsthereof;
(c) the details of surveys/studies/assessments conducted during the last five years on mental
health, including any data available on disease burden, treatment gaps or suicide trends, State-
wise;
(d) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government under National Mental Health
Programme/Mission toexpandmental healthcareservices; and
(e) the measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to reduce the shortage of
psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, clinical psychologists, counsellors and other mental health
professionals across the country?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND
FAMILYWELFARE
(SH.PRATAPRAOJADHAV)
(a) to (c) The Government is aware of the findings of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Key points from the WHO’s report of “World Mental Health Today: Latest Data”, 2025 states
that globally,suicide accountsfor more thanone inevery100 deaths.
The Government conducted the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS), 2015-16 of India
through the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru in
12States of the country, asperwhich the prevalenceof mental disorders inadultsoverthe age of
18yearsisabout 10.6%. The majorfindingsof the survey are asunder:
i. The prevalenceof mentalmorbidityishighinurban metropolitanareas.ii. Mental disorders are closely linked to both causation and consequences of several
non-communicabledisorders (NCD).
iii. Nearly 1 in 40 and 1 in 20 persons suffer from past and current depression,
respectively.
iv. Neurosis and stress related disorders affect 3.5% of the population and was
reportedtobe higheramongfemales(nearlytwice asmuch inmales).
v. Data indicatethat 0.9% of the survey populationwere at highrisk of suicide.
vi. Nearly 50% of persons with major depressive disorders reported difficulties in
carryingout theirdailyactivities.
Apart from NMHS, the following national level surveys/ studies/ assessments conducted during
the last five yearsonmental healthcareasfollows:
i. The Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) is a nationwide panel survey of
adults aged 45 and older and their spouses less than 45 years, collecting data on
theirhealth,social andeconomicwell-being.
ii. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) conducted the
“National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India” in all the 36
states/UTs of the country with an objective to assess the extent and pattern of
substance use inIndia.
iii. The National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) under the aegis / ambit of Ministry of
Home Affairs publishes the Annual Report on “Accidental Deaths and Suicides in
India” stating the data of suicides anditscauses / reasons.
(d) and (e) To address the burden of mental disorders, the Government of India 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, inter- alia, include outpatient services, assessment, counselling/
psycho-social interventions, continuingcare andsupport topersons with severe mentaldisorders,
drugs, outreachservices, ambulance services etc.
Under the tertiary care component of NMHP, under Manpower Development Scheme-A, 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
PGDepartmentsinmental healthspecialtiesunderManpower DevelopmentScheme-B.
The Government has launched a “National Tele Mental Health Programme” (NTMHP) on 10th
October, 2022, that functions as the digital arm of the District Mental Health Programme to
provide universal access to equitable, accessible, affordable and quality mental health carethrough 24 x 7 tele-mental health counselling services. For this, a toll-free number (14416) has
beenset upacross the country.
As on 27.11.2025, 36 States/ UTs have set up 53Tele MANAS Cells. Tele-MANAS services are
available in 20 languages based on language opted by States. More than 29,82,000 calls have
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 beingtomental disorders.
The Government has also launched the video consultation facility under Tele-MANAS, as
anotherupgrade tothe already existing audiocallingfacility.
There hasbeensignificant increase inMedical Colleges, Under Graduate(UG) andPost Graduate
(PG) seats in the country. There is an increase in Medical Colleges from 387 to 818; UG seats
from 51,348to1,28,875 andPGseats from 31,185to82,059from 2014toasondate
As per information provided by National Medical Commission (NMC), there are 13,86,150
registered allopathic doctors. Psychiatry now has been made a compulsory subject with a
dedicated question paper in MBBS. The curriculum is now competency based. The numbers of
hours of psychiatry teaching and clinical postings is increased, marks for psychiatry have been
increasedandthe psychiatry internship ismade mandatory.
For increasing the number of psychiatrists in the Country, Post Graduate Medical Education
Board (PGMEB) of National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued the Minimum Standard of
Requirements for Post-Graduate Courses - 2023 (PGMSR-2023) on 15.1.2024. For starting/
increase of seats in MD (Psychiatry), the number of OPD has been brought down to 30 per day
for annual intake of maximum 2 PG students with 20% increase for each additional seat.
Similarly, the minimumbedsrequired perunit for starting MD (Psychiatry)course with 2seats, 3
seats and5seats ina medical collegeis8beds, 12bedsand20 bedsrespectively.
As per information received from Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), at present, 66
institutions/universities are offering M.Phil Clinical Psychology course. The Council has
launched B.Sc. Clinical Psychology (Hons.) course from the academic session 2024- 25 and
granted approval to 19 universities to offer this course for developing more professionals in
clinicalpsychology.
****