Ms. Kanchan Rai, Mental & Emotional Wellbeing Coach, Founder – Let Us Talk
India is in the middle of a mental health epidemic. Budget 2022 saw some initiatives such as a tele-mental health helpline and the roll-out of an open platform to build a national health ecosystem. The government should have the same intensity on mental health care as they have for combatting the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Budgetary development came at the heels of increasing cases that link mental health issues with post-covid 19 infections. In the ongoing pandemic, mental health cases witnessed a 22 per cent rise. Patients have been reporting a combination of mental health problems, among them are persistent anxiety, depression, fear, brain fog, as well as several neurological symptoms. This alarming situation is attributed to the loss of lives, decline in a steady income, disruption of service chain management, and multiple lock-downs.
Poor mental health limits the functionality of communities and affects the productivity of a country besides imposing huge economic costs. Globally, mental illness contributes 18.5 per cent of the overall disease burden. India reflects a staggering number with 56 million cases of depression, 43 million anxiety disorders including the highest global rate of suicides which claim nearly 700 lives every day. As per a WHO estimate, India is likely to suffer an economic loss of USD 1.03 trillion between 2012 and 2030. Therefore, good mental health is indispensable for a prosperous nation and the holistic well-being of its people.
With IITs and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences at the fore, Budget 2022 not only highlighted the fact that mental health conditions can afflict anyone, but also that with professional care it can be treated, and with awareness, the stigma around it can be eliminated. However, there is an urgent need to understand existing challenges and work in tandem with civil societies, experts, and the government to build a robust framework to tackle mental health in India.
With upgrading our physical infrastructure, there is a need to build a more inclusive healthcare system and strengthen human resources by training more mental health professionals and skilled health workers. As it stands, for every 1,00,000 population in India, there are only 0.3 psychiatrists, 0.12 nurses, 0.07 psychologists, and 0.07 health workers. This brings out the precarious shortage of human resources and the dire need to scale up investment to address the issue. In addition, yoga, meditation, and institutes that focus on mindfulness can provide huge relief, but their capacities have to be increased and the onus to support these initiatives lies on the government.
As the Mental Health Act 2017 grants people the right to life with dignity without discrimination, coercion, and harassment, we hope the gestures made in this Budget support our wellness centres and health sector as a whole further multiple. It will enable us to respond to the critical issue of mental health effectively.
