Recognising the role of mental health in economic health of the country, the Economic Survey (ES), presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament on Monday, for the first time ever, brought focus on the subject.
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The survey proposed to increase the number of psychiatrists, from 0.75 psychiatrists per lakh population in 2021 to the WHO norm of 3 per lakh population, apart from developing comprehensive guidelines for the excellence centers’ services alongside mental healthcare professionals and users to understand their needs.
The survey noted that mental health was an impactful driver of individual and national development as it referred to the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) 2015-16 which pegged the country’s 10.6 per cent adults population suffering from mental disorders. “The treatment gap for mental disorders ranged between 70 per cent and 92 per cent for different disorders. Further, the prevalence of mental morbidity was higher in urban metro regions (13.5 per cent) as compared to rural areas (6.9 per cent) and urban non-metro areas (4.3 per cent),” the ES stated.
But how does mental health impact the economy?
The survey points out that at an aggregate economic level, mental health disorders are associated with significant productivity losses due to absenteeism, decreased productivity, disability, and increased healthcare costs. “There is also evidence of poverty affecting the risk of mental health via stressful living conditions, financial instability, and a lack of opportunities for upward mobility, which contribute to heightened psychological distress.”
The survey talks about various government initiatives under the National Mental Health Programme, National Tele Mental Health Programme, and Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram to help those with mental health problems.
At the policy level, the survey suggests that nurturing peer support networks, self-help groups, and community-based rehabilitation programmes can help de-stigmatisation of mental disorders and develop a sense of belonging. It also highlighted the importance of partnering with NGOs “to scale up efforts, share knowledge, and leverage resources to enhance future policies, to aid in identifying areas of improvement.”
It proposes sensitization of mental health at the preschool and Anganwadi level to provide precious early identification of disorders, apart from standardisation of guidelines for mental-health services across the government and private sector. The survey also suggests integrating mental health interventions in schools, including developing an age-appropriate mental health curriculum for teachers and students, encouraging early intervention and positive language in schools, promoting community-level interactions, and balancing the role of technology.
