On 10th October, the world marks World Mental Health Day, a global initiative launched to raise awareness on mental health issues and rally support for mental health care worldwide. The World Federation for Mental Health established this day in 1992, and since then, it is commemorated every year. In India, this day casts a spotlight on the urgent need to address mental health challenges rampant among the country’s burgeoning adolescent population (aged 10-19 years), crucial for its future prosperity and development.
Understanding Mental Health: A Comprehensive Overview
Mental health encapsulates a person’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being, and includes their overall mental and emotional state. It involves an individual’s ability to handle stress, manage emotions, maintain healthy relationships, work efficiently, and make rational decisions. Just as crucial as physical health, mental health forms an integral part of overall health and well-being.
The Current State of Mental Healthcare in India
In India, data from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences reveal that more than 80% of people do not access care services due to various reasons, such as lack of knowledge, stigma, and high cost of care. The economic loss due to mental health conditions, between 2012-2030, is estimated at a staggering USD 1.03 trillion according to the World Health Organization.
Government Initiatives Targeting Mental Health in India
The Indian Government has launched several initiatives focused on mental health. These include the National Mental Health Program, Ayushman Bharat – Health and Wellness Centres, National Tele Mental Health Programme, Kiran Helpline, Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram, and Yuva Spandana Yojana.
Unveiling the Issues Surrounding Mental Health in India
The key issues encompass limited access to mental healthcare, stigma and lack of awareness, vulnerability of adolescents to mental health challenges, gender disparities, economic factors, online and social media influences, concerns regarding geriatric mental health, and the impacts of disasters and trauma.
The Path Ahead: Transforming Mental Health Care
The government and policymakers should shift from the medical model to a convergent model of mental health. A prime example is the successful implementation of the ‘Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child’ model in the US that considers various factors influencing well-being throughout an individual’s life.
Enhancing Mental Healthcare Infrastructure
It is crucial to invest in building more mental health clinics and facilities, particularly in rural and underserved areas. The nation must train and recruit more mental health professionals and promote telemedicine and online mental health services to bridge the gap between urban and rural areas.
Integrating Mental Health With Primary Healthcare
Integration of mental health services into the existing primary healthcare system is a need of the hour for ensuring early detection and treatment. Training primary care providers to identify and manage common mental health issues is equally important.
Mental Health Education and Insurance Coverage
Incorporating mental health education into school curricula will promote early awareness and destigmatization. Furthermore, expanding mental health coverage under health insurance policies in a phase-wise manner will make treatment more affordable and accessible.
The article wraps up without a conclusion, with an examination question from the previous year’s civil services examination probing, “Why is suicide among young women increasing in Indian society?”