National Mental Health Survey of India 2015-16

financing, devising mechanisms for accelerating human resources, improving drug
delivery and logistics mechanisms and devising effective monitoring frameworks, so as to
provide the widest possible coverage to affected citizens.
2. Broad-basing of priorities and planning of services to address the triple burden of common
mental disorders, substance use disorders and severe mental disorders is required
through focused as well as integrated approaches.
• Mental health should be integrated with programmes of NCD prevention and control,
child health, adolescent health, elderly health and other national disease control
programmes. Specific programme implementation strategies and guidelines should
be provided to all state governments in relation to activities, programmes, human
resources, funding as well as monitoring.
• In particular, in all these programmes, screening for common mental disorders
(depression, suicidal behaviours, substance use problems, etc.,), health promotion
(through yoga and other methods) and continuity of care / referral services should be
an integral component.
• In addition, existing platforms of educational institutions and work places should be
strengthened to include mental health agenda. Such programmes should first be initiated
in DMHP sites based on the experiences of pilot studies and expanded in the next phase.
3. All Indian states should be supported to develop and implement a focused “Biennial
mental health action plan” (covering severe mental disorders, common mental disorders
and substance use problems) that includes specified and defined activity components,
financial provisions, strengthening of the required facilities, human resources and drug
logistics in a time bound manner. It should include implementing legislations, coordinated
Information Education Communication (IEC) activities, health promotion measures,
rehabilitation and other activities. These action plans should indicate responsible agencies
or units for each defined activity component, their budget requirements and time lines of
implementation along with monitoring indicators. Monitoring and evaluation should be an
inbuilt component of this action plan and could be revised once in five years to measure
progress.
4. Capacity strengthening of all policy makers in health and related sectors (education,
welfare, urban and rural development, transport, etc.,) at the national and state levels
should be given priority. Furthermore, human resource development for mental health
in health and all related sectors should be systematically planned and implemented
over the next 5 years. Based on their roles and responsibilities, these strategies should
focus on (i) sensitisation of policy makers and professionals in health, education, welfare,
women and child development, law, police and others, (ii) training all existing and new
state mental health programme officers in programme implementation, (ii) training all
district mental health programme officers in programme implementation, (iv) building skills
and knowledge of doctors (modern and traditional), health workers, ANMs, ASHAs and
USHAs, Anganwadi workers and others.
SMHSA
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