IIT Roorkee Drafts Comprehensive Mental Health Policy

The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee is drafting a comprehensive mental health policy to strengthen student support and set a model for other IITs.

• Inter-IIT Consultations – SAHYOG 2.0: The effort was reinforced through “SAHYOG 2.0”.
• The first draft, prepared by the institute’s Wellness Centre in consultation with student welfare deans, psychologists, external experts and faculty, adopts a balanced and professionally informed approach.

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What is mental health?

• Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.
• It is an integral component of health and well-being that underpins our individual and collective abilities to make decisions, build relationships and shape the world we live in.
• Mental health is a basic human right.

Key Aspects of Mental Health

• Emotional Well-being: Involves understanding, managing, and expressing feelings effectively. It includes the ability to handle stress, experience a range of emotions, and cope with life’s challenges.
• Psychological Well-being: Refers to having a sense of self-worth, understanding oneself, and possessing the capacity to manage thoughts and emotions.
• Social Well-being: Involves having healthy relationships, being able to interact with others, and contributing positively to society.

Key Statistics on Mental Health in India

• Prevalence of Mental Health Issues: According to the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) 2015-2016, approximately 150 million adults in India are living with mental disorders, requiring access to mental health services .
  • Around 7.3% of individuals aged 13-17 years in India suffer from severe mental illness .
• Suicide and Mental Health: Mental health-related suicides have risen by 44% between 2018 and 2022 .
  • In 2022, 10,365 men (about 72%) and 4,234 women (about 28%) died by suicide linked to mental health issues .

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• Treatment Gap: The treatment gap for mental disorders in India is alarmingly high. For alcohol use disorders, the treatment gap is as high as 86%, and for other mental disorders, it is over 60%, except for epilepsy .
  • Only 29% of people with psychosis and one-third of people with depression receive formal mental health care .
• Psychiatrists and Healthcare Accessibility: India has just 0.75 psychiatrists per 1 lakh population, much lower than the WHO recommended standard of 3 psychiatrists per 1 lakh population.
  • A shortage of mental health professionals is a significant challenge, with an estimated 30,000 psychiatrists, 37,000 psychiatric nurses, and 38,000 clinical psychologists needed to meet the population’s mental health demands.
• Impact of COVID-19: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly exacerbated mental health issues, leading to a 25% increase in suicide-related mental health deaths in 2020 compared to 2019 .

Challenges with Mental Healthcare in India

• Stigma Surrounding Mental Health: Mental health remains a taboo subject in many parts of India. People suffering from mental health conditions are often stigmatized, leading to reluctance to seek help.
  • The WHO Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan (2013–2030) highlights stigma as a significant barrier to mental health care globally. In India, this leads to the underreporting of mental health issues and contributes to delayed treatment.
• Limited Access to Mental Health Care: The WHO Mental Health Atlas highlighted that 85% of people with severe mental health issues in low-income countries, including India, do not receive the treatment they need.
• Limited Mental Health Workforce: There is a severe shortage of mental health professionals in India, with just 0.75 psychiatrists per 1 lakh people, far below the WHO recommended 3 psychiatrists per lakh.

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Way Forward

• Strengthen Mental Health Infrastructure: Increase the number of mental health facilities across urban and rural areas, with a focus on integrating mental health care into primary healthcare.
  • Establish more community mental health programs to ensure accessibility and reduce the dependency on large institutions.
• Increase Funding and Resources: Prioritize funding for mental health services, ensuring sufficient resources for the implementation of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 and National Mental Health Policy.
  • Allocate funds for training mental health professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, and counselors, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
• Focus on Prevention and Early Intervention: Launch nationwide mental health awareness campaigns to reduce stigma and educate people about mental health, focusing on early identification of issues.
  • Implement mental health education programs in schools and workplaces to equip individuals with coping skills and knowledge of available resources.

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