Nearly 7.3 per cent of India’s adolescents and 10.6 per cent of adults across twelve states are living with mental health disorders, according to new government data presented in the Lok Sabha, underlining a crisis in which up to 92 per cent of those affected still go without proper treatment due to stigma, low awareness and a severe shortage of professionals.
As per the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) conducted in 2015-16 by the Government through the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, “the prevalence of mental health disorders in the age group 13-17 years is about 7.3 per cent in 12 states,” stated Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav in the Lok Sabha. To address this burden, the government has been implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) across the country. Its key component, the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP), has been sanctioned for implementation in 767 districts, with support provided through the National Health Mission.
Under DMHP, facilities at the Community Health Centre (CHC) and Primary Health Centre (PHC) levels include outpatient services, assessment, counselling and psychosocial interventions, continuing care and support for persons with severe mental disorders, provision of drugs, outreach services, and ambulance facilities. Additionally, a 10-bed inpatient facility is available at the district level for more intensive care.
#MentalHealth is shaped by more than just the mind. Social factors like poverty & housing also affect mental health.
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) October 12, 2025
WHO mental health guidance provides all countries with practical tools to strengthen policies & services, ensures people with lived experience have a voice &… pic.twitter.com/m0p4C94DnU
The DMHP also focuses on preventive and promotional initiatives, providing suicide prevention services, workplace stress management, life skills training, and counselling in schools and colleges. Its broader objectives include augmenting institutional capacity for mental healthcare, promoting community awareness, and ensuring participation in service delivery.
At the tertiary care level, 25 Centres of Excellence have been sanctioned to expand postgraduate intake in mental health specialities and to provide tertiary treatment facilities. Additionally, 19 government medical colleges have been supported to strengthen 47 postgraduate departments in mental health specialities. Currently, India has 47 government-run mental hospitals, including three central mental health institutions: NIMHANS Bengaluru, Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health in Tezpur, Assam, and the Central Institute of Psychiatry in Ranchi. Mental health services are also available in all AIIMS institutions.
To strengthen primary healthcare, over 1.81 lakh Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and PHCs have been upgraded to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, where mental health services have been incorporated under the Comprehensive Primary Health Care package. Operational guidelines and training manuals for various cadres on Mental, Neurological, and Substance Use Disorders (MNS) have been released to ensure proper care at the primary level. Furthermore, the “Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health” module under the Ayushman Bharat School Health & Wellness Programme trains Health and Wellness Ambassadors (teachers) to conduct interactive sessions for students. Under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), Mobile Health Teams screen children from birth to 18 years for developmental issues and provide treatment, including surgeries at tertiary facilities if required. The Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) promotes adolescent mental health through peer education, adolescent-friendly health clinics, and awareness campaigns.
The Ministry of Education has launched Manodarpan, aimed at providing psychosocial support to students, teachers, and families across the country. It supports mental health and well-being in schools, colleges, and universities, including students preparing for competitive examinations. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has also issued guidelines promoting psychological well-being, stress management, and positive emotional learning in higher education institutions.
Mental health among adults
Mental health concerns are not limited to adolescents. As stated in another Lok Sabha reply on December 5, 2025, the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) 2015-16 reported that “the prevalence of mental disorders in adults over the age of 18 years is about 10.6 per cent.” The survey highlighted that mental morbidity is particularly high in urban metropolitan areas. It found that mental disorders are closely linked to both the causation and consequences of several non-communicable diseases. Nearly one in forty persons reported past depression, while one in twenty suffered from current depression. Neurosis and stress-related disorders affected 3.5 per cent of the population and were reported to be nearly twice as high in females than males. Approximately 0.9 per cent of the population was identified as being at high risk of suicide, and around 50 per cent of persons with major depressive disorders reported difficulties in performing their daily activities.
In addition to the NMHS, other national surveys provide insights into mental health trends in India. The Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) surveys adults aged 45 and older on health, social, and economic well-being, while the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has conducted the National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use to assess the prevalence of substance-related disorders across all 36 states and union territories. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) annually publishes data on suicides and their causes, contributing to the understanding of mental health risks and trends.
This data indicates a pressing need for interventions targeting both youth and adults, as untreated mental disorders can significantly affect quality of life, productivity, and social participation.
Tele-MANAS reaches 12.33 lakh people in 2025
The Government of India has implemented multiple programs and interventions to curb the burden of mental health disorders and increase access to services. Through the Manpower Development Scheme, 25 Centres of Excellence and 47 postgraduate departments across 19 government medical colleges have been strengthened to train mental health professionals and expand tertiary treatment facilities. Psychiatry is now a compulsory subject in MBBS, with increased teaching hours, clinical postings, dedicated examinations, and mandatory internships. From 2014 to 2025, the number of medical colleges increased from 387 to 818, undergraduate seats from 51,348 to 1,28,875 and postgraduate seats from 31,185 to 82,059. The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) has introduced a B.Sc. Clinical Psychology (Hons.) course in 19 universities and currently supports 66 institutions offering M.Phil Clinical Psychology programs to increase the number of trained professionals.
In October 2022, the Government launched the National Tele Mental Health Programme (NTMHP), functioning as a digital extension of DMHP. This initiative provides universal access to tele-mental health counselling through a toll-free number (14416) and the Tele-MANAS mobile application. As of November 27, 2025, 36 States and UTs have set up 53 Tele-MANAS cells. Tele-MANAS services are available in 20 languages, and “over 29.82 lakh calls have been handled on the helpline number since inception. Total number of calls handled through the Tele-MANAS platform during the current year is over 12.33 lakh". Video consultation facilities complement audio call services, improving accessibility for remote and underserved populations.
Substance use and suicide prevention are integrated into mental health strategies. Community-based programs, awareness campaigns, and peer education aim to identify high-risk populations and provide timely interventions.
Is this enough?
A 2025 study published in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry highlighted that “mental health literacy in India remains low. Most individuals do not recognise common mental disorders such as depression or anxiety as medical conditions requiring professional care. In the National Mental Health Survey, nearly 80 per cent of respondents had never heard of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.” The study further added that cultural beliefs and stigma inhibit help-seeking behaviour, with many attributing mental illness to supernatural causes and turning to faith healers or informal networks instead of formal medical services.
As stated in the study, this lack of symptom recognition represents a major drop-off in the earliest stages of the mental health care cascade. Without awareness and proactive help-seeking, individuals cannot access formal care. The study emphasised that “policy interventions must prioritise mental health awareness campaigns integrated into school curricula, workplaces, and community health outreach", and that public messaging should use non-stigmatising language while leveraging community leaders, religious figures, and persons with lived experience to shift narratives around mental illness.
The study mentioned that India’s mental health infrastructure is “inadequate and unevenly distributed,” with approximately 0.75 psychiatrists per 100,000 people, below the WHO-recommended minimum of 1 per 100,000. Most specialists work in urban areas, leaving rural districts underserved. Many psychiatry graduates migrate to cities, and undergraduate exposure to psychiatry is limited. As the study added, “Medical officers at primary health centres (PHCs) therefore lack confidence to diagnose and treat common mental disorders, even after short trainings. General practitioners often miss cases, which delays care and widens the treatment gap.”
To address these challenges, the study recommended strengthening the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) with “increased funding, dedicated staff, and reliable medicine supplies.” It also highlighted that mandatory mental health training for primary care providers, combined with simple screening tools such as PHQ-9 or GHQ-12, can improve detection rates. Integrating mental health into existing service platforms, like maternal health programs, NCD clinics, and adolescent health services, can create multiple entry points for diagnosis.
Even after diagnosis, the study noted that many individuals do not begin treatment. “Reasons include fear of side effects, lack of access to preferred therapy options, and cost of care,” the study said.
Public facilities often experience drug stock-outs, while psychological services are limited. The study further added that “nearly 40 per cent of individuals fail to return after their first mental health consultation,” emphasising the need for scaling up brief, evidence-based psychological interventions. Task-sharing models, validated in India, including Tele-MANAS and the Healthy Activity Program trials, demonstrate feasibility and cost-effectiveness.
Finally, as mentioned in the study, “recovery in mental health encompasses more than symptom reduction; it includes restoration of function, social inclusion, and economic participation.” India has limited psychosocial rehabilitation infrastructure, with only a small number of day-care centres, halfway homes, and supported employment schemes available. While policy frameworks like the Mental Healthcare Act (2017) and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016) mandate access to rehabilitation and livelihood support, the study emphasised that “implementation is weak” and called for inter-ministerial collaboration to operationalise recovery pathways through skill development programs, job reservations, and disability pensions.
This story is done in collaboration with First Check, which is the health journalism vertical of DataLEADS.
