**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1147, dated December 5, 2025, regarding the rise in mental health cases in India. It details government initiatives to address mental health disorders, including the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) and other related programs. The response also outlines services and facilities available at various healthcare levels and through specific initiatives.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Prevalence of Mental Health Disorders:**
* According to the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) 2015-16, the prevalence of mental health disorders in the age group 13-17 years is about 7.3% in 12 states of the country.
* **National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) Implementation:**
* The District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) component has been sanctioned for implementation in 767 districts, supported through the National Health Mission.
* Facilities at Community Health Centres (CHC) and Primary Health Centres (PHC) include outpatient services, assessment, counseling, psycho-social interventions, and continuing care for severe mental disorders.
* DMHP objectives include suicide prevention, workplace stress management, life skills training, community awareness promotion, and augmented institutional capacity.
* 25 Centers of Excellence have been sanctioned to increase PG student intake and provide tertiary treatment facilities.
* The Government supported 19 Government medical colleges/institutions to strengthen 47 PG Departments in mental health specialties.
* There are 47 Government-run mental hospitals, including 3 Central Mental Health Institutions.
* Mental Health Services are provisioned in all AIIMS.
* **Strengthening Healthcare Services at Primary Healthcare Level:**
* More than 1.81 lakh Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) have been upgraded to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
* Mental health services have been added under Comprehensive Primary Health Care at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
* **Other Initiatives:**
* “Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health” is a module under the Ayushman Bharat School Health & Wellness Programme.
* Health and Wellness Ambassadors (Teachers) are trained on mental health topics.
* Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) Mobile Hut Teams (MHT) conduct health screening of children from birth to 18 years.
* Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) uses Adolescent Friendly Health Clinics (AFHC), Peer Education Programme and Adolescent Health and Wellness Days (AH&WD) to create awareness on mental health issues.
* The Ministry of Education (MoE) launched Manodarpan for psychosocial support to students, families, and teachers.
* The University Grants Commission (UGC) issued guidelines for mental health promotion at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) on 13.04.2023.
* The “National Tele Mental Health Programme" was launched on 10th October, 2022 to further improve access to quality mental health counselling.
* As on 27.11.2025, 36 States/ UTs have set up 53 Tele MANAS Cells and have started tele mental health services.
* Tele MANAS Mobile Application was launched on October 10, 2024, to provide support for mental health issues.
**Impact Analysis**
**Citizens**
* **Impact:** Increased access to mental health services at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, leading to improved mental well-being.
* **Action Required:** Utilize available mental health services, including those offered through DMHP, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, and Tele MANAS.
**Students, Families, and Teachers**
* **Impact:** Psychosocial support is available through the Manodarpan initiative and UGC guidelines, promoting mental well-being and addressing academic and emotional challenges.
* **Action Required:** Engage with Manodarpan and participate in mental health programs offered by educational institutions.
**Healthcare Providers and Staff**
* **Impact:** Increased capacity building and training opportunities under NMHP and other programs, leading to improved service delivery.
* **Action Required:** Participate in training programs, implement mental health services at their respective facilities, and adhere to operational guidelines.
**State/UT Governments**
* **Impact:** Support and resources provided through the National Health Mission for implementing DMHP.
* **Action Required:** Implement DMHP in all districts, ensure facilities are equipped and staffed, and monitor program effectiveness.
Key Entities Referenced
National Mental Health Programme (NMHP): A Government of India program implemented to address the burden of mental disorders in the country.
Tele Mental Health Programme (Tele-MANAS): A national program launched to improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services, using a mobile application and tele-services.
District Mental Health Programme (DMHP): The district-level component of the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), implemented in districts across India to provide mental health services.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The ministry responsible for implementing the National Mental Health Programme and related mental health initiatives.
Ayushman Arogya Mandir: Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) upgraded to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs to provide comprehensive primary health care, including mental health services.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1147
TOBE ANSWERED ON05TH DECEMBER, 2025
RISE IN MENTALHEALTH CASES
1147. DR. RAJ KUMAR CHABBEWAL:
Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether it is a fact that there has been a significant rise in the mental health cases and
anxietydisorders amongchildren andadolescentsinthe country;
(b) if so, the detailsalong with the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government is taking any measures to prevent this alarming rise of mental
healthcases amongthe youngerpopulationinthe country; and
(d) if so, the detailsthereof andif not,the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND
FAMILYWELFARE
(SH.PRATAPRAOJADHAV)
(a) to (d) As per the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS), 2015-16 of India conducted by
the Government through the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences
(NIMHANS), Bengaluru in12 Statesof the country, the prevalence of mentalhealthdisorders in
the age group 13-17 yearsisabout 7.3%.
To address the burdenof mentaldisorders, the Government of India isimplementing 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 underDMHPat the CommunityHealth Centre(CHC) andPrimary HealthCentre(PHC)
levels for all including elderly, inter- alia, include outpatient services, assessment, counselling/
psycho-social interventions, continuingcare andsupport topersons with severe mentaldisorders,drugs, outreach services, ambulance services etc. In addition to above services there is a
provision of 10beddedin-patientfacility at the District level.The objectives of DMHPare:
i. to provide suicide prevention services, work place stress management, life skills
trainingandcounselling inschools andcolleges.
ii. to provide mental health services including prevention, promotion and long-term
continuingcare at different levelsof district healthcaredeliverysystem.
iii. to augment institutional capacity in terms of infrastructure, equipment and human
resource for mentalhealthcare.
iv. to promote community awareness and participation in the delivery of mental
healthcareservices.
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.
The Government is also taking steps to strengthen mental healthcare services at primary
healthcare level. The Government has upgradedmore than 1.81 lakh Sub HealthCentres (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 ArogyaMandirs. Operational guidelinesandtrainingmanualsfor variouscadres
on Mental, Neurological, and Substance Use Disorders (MNS) at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs
have beenreleasedunderthe ambitof AyushmanBharat.
“Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health” is incorporated as a dedicated module under
Ayushman Bharat School Health & Wellness Programme. Health and Wellness Ambassadors
(Teachers) are trained on mental health along with other thematic areas of the programme, take
interactive sessions with the students and percolate the messages through weekly sessions
promotingjoyfullearning.
Under Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) Mobile Hut Teams (MHT) conduct health
screening of children from birth to 18 years of age for the four Ds-Defects at birth, Diseases,
Deficiencies, and Development delays, spanning 32 common health conditions for early
detection and treatment and management, including surgeries at the tertiary level. The RBSKfocuses on improving the quality of life of childrenand providingcomprehensive care to themin
the community.
The Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
through its interventions viz. Adolescent Friendly Health Clinics (AFHC), Peer Education
Programme and Adolescent Health and Wellness Days (AH&WD) creates awareness on mental
health issues and provides counselling services. Peer Educators form groups of 15-20 boys and
girls in the community and conduct weekly one to two hour participatory sessions on adolescent
healthincludingmentalhealthandwellbeing.
Ministry of Education (MoE), has launched an initiative, Manodarpan, with the aim to provide
psychosocial support to students, their familiesand teachers across the country, for mental health
and well-being . All activities undertaken under the Manodarpan initiative are aimed towards
supporting the metal health and well-being of students from schools, colleges and universities,
includingthosestudents whoarepreparingforcompetitiveexaminations.
University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued Guidelines for Promotion of Physical Fitness,
Sports, Student’sHealth, Welfare,Psychological and EmotionalWell- beingat Higher Education
Institutions (HEIs) on 13.04.2023, which provides for promotion of physical fitness and sports
activitiesforstudents; creationof safeguardsagainst academicpressure, peerpressure, behavioral
issues, stress, career concerns, depression and other issues on the mental health of students; to
teach positive thinking and emotions in the student community; and to promote a positive and
supportive networkforstudents.
Besides the above,the Government haslauncheda “National TeleMental HealthProgramme” on
10th October, 2022, to further improve access to quality mental health counselling and care
services in the country. As on27.11.2025, 36 States/ UTs have set up 53 Tele MANAS Cells and
have started tele mental health services. More than 29,82,000 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 thathasbeendevelopedtoprovidesupport formentalhealthissuesrangingfrom
well being tomentaldisorders. The Government hasalso launched the videoconsultation facility
underTele-MANAS,asanotherupgrade tothe alreadyexisting audiocallingfacility.
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