Govt: 24x7 free counselling for mental health

NEW DELHI: The government will launch a national tele-mental health programme to provide 24x7 free counselling and care to people, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Tuesday.

“The pandemic has accentuated mental health problems in people of all ages. To better the access to quality mental health counselling and care services, a ‘National Tele Mental Health Programme’ will be launched…,” she told Parliament while presenting the Union Budget 2022-23.

The initiative will include a network of 23 tele-mental health centres of excellence, with NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences) as its nodal centre and International Institute of Information Technology-Bangalore (IIITB) helping with technology support.

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the programme will provide round-theclock access to mental health care services to people. “The National Tele-Mental Health Programme will ensure access to quality, standardized & free 24x7 mental health services to all and will play a crucial role in bridging a major gap in access to mental healthcare in the country. #AatmaNirbharBharatKaBudget,” he tweeted. Counselling and care will be provided using “standard, evidence-based, and culturally appropriate” tools.

“It will bridge gap in access to mental healthcare & help in achieving India’s SDG target 3.4.2. It will help to connect with various mental healthcare services, the health and wellness centres under Ayushman Bharat as well as e-Sanjeevani system. The initiative will be aligned with Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission,” Mandaviya said in another tweet.

NIMHANS, a government certified centre of excellence, has been providing tele-consultations for years.

Experts said the demand for access to mental health care services increased manifold during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic across the globe, as people largely found it difficult to cope with the stress due to restrictions and witnessing disease and deaths around.

“The pandemic has caused a silent global mental health epidemic. The use of telemedicine to diagnose and treat such patients has proved to be highly effective given the unobtrusive nature of the interaction which also ensures patient privacy. Given the shortage of mental health professionals, especially in rural areas, telemedicine will greatly enhance accessibility for patients requiring psychiatric help,” said Rana Mehta, partner and leader healthcare, PwC India.

People receiving treatment for mental conditions also found it difficult to access care.

In 2020, World Health Organisation (WHO) released findings of a mental health survey, which said the pandemic has disrupted critical mental health services in 93% of the countries worldwide.

According to the survey, nearly one-thirds reported disruptions to emergency interventions, including those for people experiencing prolonged seizures; severe substance use withdrawal syndromes, and delirium, often a sign of a serious underlying medical condition. Around 30% reported disruptions to access for medications for mental, neurological and substance use disorders.

Dr Samir Parikh, director, department of mental health and behavioral sciences, Fortis Healthcare, said: “Tele-medicine will ensure affordability and accessibility and we can move towards a goal of mental health for all.”