The Government had launched the “National Tele Mental Health Programme” on 10th October, 2022 to further improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services in the country. As on 09.03.2023, 25 States/ UTs have set up 36 Tele MANAS Cells and have started mental health services. 63806 calls have been handled on the helpline number. 22 AIIMS also have provision of Mental Health Services. These services are also available under PMJAY. Further, there are 47 Government run mental hospitals in the country, including 3 Central Mental Health Institutions.

To enhance the capacity of health services in the country, the Government of India is implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP). Under the Tertiary care component of NMHP, 25 Centres of Excellence have been sanctioned to increase the intake of students in PG departments in mental health specialities as well as to provide tertiary level treatment facilities.

The Government has also supported 19 Government medical colleges/institutions to strengthen 47 PG Departments in mental health specialties. Additionally, the government is supporting implementation of the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) under the National Mental Health Programme in 716 districts of the country for detection, management and treatment of mental disorders/ illness with the major components of counselling in schools and colleges, work place stress management, life skills training, suicide prevention services and Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities for generation of awareness and removal of stigma associated with Mental Illness.

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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HFW/ PQ /Update on mentally ill patients/28March2023/5