Current Status of Mental Health Programme in India

Mental disorders have profound implications on the health and well-being not only of individuals but also of families and entire communities.The global burden of disease attributable to mental/neurological disorders and substance abuse is projected to rise from 11.5% in 1998 to 15.5% by the year 2020. India, constituting 1/6th of the world population, will have to share its burden of mentally ill. There is a huge gulf between the existing mental health care resources and the need for psychiatric services in the community. This calls for the development of a comprehensive policy that defines a vision for the future that helps to establish a blueprint for the prevention and treatment of mental illness, the rehabilitation of people with mental disorders, and the promotion of mental health in the community.

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