Context:

  • According to a recent report approximately every fifth person across the globe experiences mental health issues at some point during his lifespan.
  • In 1992 the World Federation of Mental Health recognised the need to be more vocal about mental health issues as people with mental illness often suffer silently, fearing social stigma, lack of understanding and discrimination.
  • While Depression and Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health conditions, suicide is one of the leading causes of premature and untimely deaths.
  • It is a serious concern for mental health professionals for timely intervention.
  • The spate of student suicides in Kota (Rajasthan) speaks volumes of the gravity of the situation and the urgent need to address the issue.

What is mental health?

  • Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
  • It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.
  • Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

National mental health programme:

  • The Government of India has launched the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) in 1982, keeping in view the heavy burden of mental illness in the community, and the absolute inadequacy of mental health care infrastructure in the country to deal with it.

NMHP has 3 components:

  1. Treatment of Mentally ill
  2. Rehabilitation
  3. Prevention and promotion of positive mental health.

Aims and objectives:

  1. Prevention and treatment of mental and neurological disorders and their associated disabilities.
  2. Use of mental health technology to improve general health services.
  3. Application of mental health principles in total national development to improve quality of life.
  4. To ensure availability and accessibility of minimum mental health care for all in the forseeable future, particularly to the most vulnerable and underprivileged sections of population.
  5. To encourage application of mental health knowledge in general health care and in social development.
  6. To promote community participation in the mental health services development and to stimulate efforts towards self-help in the community.

Other initiatives taken for mental health:

Manodarpan:

  • MANODARPAN is an initiative of the Ministry of Education to provide psychosocial support to students for their Mental Health and Well-being.

TeleManas:

  • Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS) initiative has been launched by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare during October 2022.
  • It aims to provide free tele-mental health services all over the country round the clock, particularly catering to people in remote or under-served areas.
  • A toll-free, 24/7 helpline number (14416) is now available as part of the initiative.
Syllabus: Prelims + Mains; GS II – Health