How is India tackling mental health crisis? | Explained

The story so far: Last month the Economic Survey highlighted the alarming rise of digital addiction and screen-related mental health problems, particularly among children and adolescents. On 1 February, the Budget announced measures to strengthen the mental health infrastructure. Key highlights include the proposal to establish a second National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in northern India and the upgrading of premier institutions in Ranchi and Tezpur to improve regional access.

Also read: Highlights of Union Budget 2026

What is India’s mental health burden?

India is facing a mental health emergency, experts say. It accounts for almost a third of the world’s cases of suicide, depression and addiction. National Crime Records Bureau and Ministry of Home Affairs Sample Registration System data show that suicide is one of the leading causes of death among Indians aged 15-29.

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According to WHO, the economic loss due to mental health problems in India between 2012 and 2030 is estimated to be $1.03 trillion. Approximately 70% to 92% of people with mental disorders do not receive appropriate treatment due to lack of awareness, stigma, and lack of professionals. According to the Indian Journal of Psychiatry, there are 0.75 psychiatrists per 1,00,000 people in India, while WHO recommends at least three psychiatrists per 1,00,000 people.

Although health spending has increased since FY 2014-15, specific allocations for mental health services have historically been small; It is around 1% of the total health budget.

Are there enough hospitals in India?

To meet the growing need for quality mental health services, the Central government has named mental health services in Ayushman Bharat as Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs). Under Ayushman Bharat, the government has upgraded more than 1.73 lakh sub-health centers and primary health centers to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. In addition, mental health services have been added to the service package within the scope of comprehensive primary health care services offered in these centers. In the last two years, the government has also expanded its manpower base by approving more than 20 centers of excellence to train more postgraduate students in mental health and provide advanced treatment. A total of 47 PG departments related to mental health have been established.

Additionally, Tele MANAS (Tele Mental Health Assistance and Inter-State Networking) is a 24×7 toll-free initiative in India that provides mental health support through toll-free helplines at 14416 or 1-800-891-4416. Launched on October 10, 2022, this program has 53 operational cells supported by 23 expert advisory institutes across 36 States/UTs.

Where is the deficiency?

In the last five years, India’s mental health allocation has increased from ₹683 crore in 2020-21 to around ₹1,898 crore in 2024-25. Neha Kirpal, co-founder of Amaha and founding cohort member of the Indian Mental Health Alliance (IMHA), a network of stakeholders working on mental health issues, says that although this rise is often cited as progress, it remains surprisingly low in context. He adds that the budget allocation is less than 2% of the total health budget, which accounts for only 2% of the national GDP. This underinvestment is very serious compared to the impact.

Explaining why targeted allocation to grassroots mental health programs is a must, he notes that even in this Budget, a significant portion of allocations continue to flow to tertiary institutions like NIMHANS and new centers of excellence. “In a country of India’s size, this alone cannot ensure the expansion of mental health services,” he explains. Another issue is about the use of funds. Experts point out that the allocated funds may be low, but even these cannot be fully evaluated at the national level. Health experts argue that India’s mental health budget should support community-based early intervention models for better use of funds.

What is the road ahead?

The need of the hour is affordable access, continuity of care and timely treatment; These are things that remain elusive, leading to preventable loss of life and years spent with disability. “Our focus remains on specialist-led tertiary care, which takes a curative rather than preventive approach. Our response capacity is severely limited. There is a huge shortage of trained mental health professionals to deal with mental illness. This has led to a 95% gap in access to mental health services,” says Ms Kirpal.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health says it is emphasizing a “whole of society” approach, integrating mental health into school curricula and strengthening workplace policies to address stress and burnout.