Guide to Positive Mental Health in the Workplace

Significance of Mental Health in India

  • Mental health is one of the most pressing public health issues.
  • Suicides in 2022: Over 1.7 lakh lives lost.
  • WHO Estimate: India bears a mental health burden of 2,443 DALYs per 10,000 population.
  • Suicide rate:1 per 100,000 (age-adjusted).
  • Economic cost: USD 1.03 trillion (2012–2030).
  • Clearly, mental health is not just a health challenge but also a socio-economic and developmental concern.

Current State of Mental Health

  • Prevalence (NMHS 2015–16):
    • 6% adults suffer from mental disorders.
    • Lifetime prevalence: 13.7%.
    • 15% of adults require intervention.
    • Higher in urban areas (13.5%) than rural areas (6.9%).
  • Treatment Gap:
    • 70–92% of patients do not receive proper treatment.
    • Reasons: stigma, lack of awareness, high cost, shortage of professionals.
    • Human resource shortage:
      • Psychiatrists – 75 per lakh people (vs WHO norm of 3).
      • Severe shortage of psychologists, nurses, rehab workers.

Factors Influencing Mental Health

  1. Biological: Family history, chronic illnesses.
  2. Psychological: Childhood trauma, abuse, personality traits.
  3. Socio-Economic & Environmental: Poverty, unemployment, disasters, violence.
  4. Lifestyle: Substance abuse, poor sleep, unhealthy diet.
  5. Cultural & Societal: Stigma, discrimination, taboos around mental illness.

Key Challenges

  • Patient-Centric: Stigma, treatment discontinuation due to high cost.
  • Resource Constraints:
    • Only 43 psychiatric beds per 1,00,000 population.
    • 15 psychologists per lakh (vs WHO norm of 3).
    • Inadequate rehab facilities, irregular medicines.
  • Administrative:
    • Poor inter-ministerial coordination.
    • Under-utilization of DMHP funds (less than 40% spent, 2015–2020).
    • Regional imbalance – rural areas neglected.

Major Government Initiatives

  1. National Mental Health Programme (NMHP, 1982):
    • Community-based care, integration with general healthcare.
  2. District Mental Health Programme (DMHP, 1996):
    • Early detection, training doctors, awareness campaigns.
  3. Mental Health Care Act, 2017:
    • Right to mental healthcare.
    • Decriminalization of suicide.
    • Insurance coverage for mental illness.
    • Mental Health Review Boards.
    • Ban on inhuman practices like chaining.
  4. Tele-MANAS (2022):
    • 24×7 tele-mental health support.
    • Over 24 lakh calls handled since launch.
    • Special focus on underserved regions.
  5. Never Alone App (2025):
    • Launched on World Suicide Prevention Day.
    • Free, web-based, student-focused.
    • Features: 24×7 availability, DSM-based diagnosis, hybrid consultation (online + offline), affordability.

 State-Level Best Practices

  • Karnataka:
    • N-SPRITE (suicide prevention centre at NIMHANS).
    • SURAKSHA project (community model).
    • USHAS project: Counselled 15,623 suicide-attempt survivors.
  • Kerala:
    • Jeevanraksha: Community gatekeepers trained in psychological first aid.
    • Special focus on post-partum depression.
  • Tamil Nadu:
    • Tele-MANAS integrated with school/social helplines.
    • Outreach for students after exam failures.

Insights from Economic Survey 2024–25

  • Mental health is central to sustaining India’s demographic dividend.
  • Recommendations:
    • Early detection in schools.
    • Workplace mental health policies.
    • Expansion of digital health services (AI-based).
    • Community-driven models.

Way Forward

  • Close Treatment Gap: Train more psychiatrists, incentivise rural postings.
  • Expand Infrastructure: More hospitals, rehab centres, regular medicine supply.
  • Reforms: Inter-ministerial coordination, efficient fund utilisation.
  • Address Stigma: Awareness campaigns, school curriculum integration.
  • Affordable Care: Insurance coverage, regulation of counselling costs.

Conclusion

India’s mental health challenge is systemic, social, and cultural in nature.

  • Helplines and hospitals alone are insufficient.
  • Requires multi-dimensional approach combining:
    • Legislative reforms,
    • Community participation,
    • Awareness and destigmatisation,
    • Robust infrastructure, and
    • Digital innovations.

This approach is essential not just for reducing suicides and disorders, but also for protecting India’s economic productivity and social stability.