National Mental Health Programme (NMHP)

To address the burden of mental health issues the Government of India is implementing the National Mental Health Program (NMHP). Under this programme, manpower development schemes are implementing by government to the establishment of Centers of Excellence and establishment of Post Graduate (PG) Department in mental health specialties and District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) for detection, management and treatment of mental disorder/illness. 

Under the DMHP activities include work place stress management, life skills training, counseling in schools and colleges, community awareness, prevention, promotion and long term continuing care at different levels of district healthcare delivery system, etc.

During the last three years, support has been provided to 10 Institutions for establishment as Centres of Excellence, 8 PG Departments in mental health specialties and 414 new districts in the country have been supported under DMHP. 

A major challenge for providing mental health care services in India is the lack of enough qualified professionals. To address this issue, the government, under the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), has introduced initiatives to increase the availability of trained manpower. These include establishing Centres of Excellence and enhancing or setting up Postgraduate (PG) Departments in mental health specialties. Until now 25 Centres of Excellence have been established, and 47 PG Departments have been strengthened or created across the country.

Additionally, to bridge the gap in underserved areas, the government is offering online training programs for general healthcare workers, including medical and paramedical professionals. These courses are conducted through Digital Academies set up at three key mental health institutes:

1. National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru.

2. Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur, Assam.

3. Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi.

These efforts aim to improve the availability and accessibility of quality mental healthcare services nationwide.

The working of National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore is regularly reviewed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Besides, the Standing Finance Committee, Governing Body and Institute Body of NIMHANS also monitor and review the functioning of the Institute and consider proposals of the Institute for initiating various developmental activities.

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