National Mental Health Survey of India 2015-16

NMHS
• Mental health care facilities
(MHCF)
This involved the collection of data on the
number of mental health care facilities and
also on the number of health care facilities
that provided mental health services in the
public health care system. Thus, two systems
namely the general health system and the
mental health system within the public
health system were involved. Information
relating to the general health system was
obtained from the State Health and Family
Welfare Department. The data relating to
mental health facilities was obtained by
contacting key persons in mental health
facilities, medical colleges, nodal officers of
the health programmes and supplemented
by information from Mental Health
programme officers at the state and district
levels. Data was also collected from the State
Mental Health Authority. All these figures
were collated to arrive at the final number.
• Human resources for mental
health (HRMH)
The size and core characteristics of the mental
health workforce was assessed using data on
the head counts of mental health professionals
and general health professionals trained
in mental health. Data on mental health
professional categories (psychiatrist, clinical
psychologist, psychiatric social workers,
rehabilitation workers and nurses with a
DPN qualification) were mainly targeted.
Registries of professional regulatory bodies
were also contacted.
• Mental health financing
The data relating to mental health financing
was obtained from the various administrative
and financial records of the Health and Family
Welfare Departments of the participating
states, state programme implementation
plans and audits. Data was also obtained from
the State Nodal Officer for Mental Health.
• Burden of mental health
disorders and treatment gap
Data was captured for severe mental
disorders, common mental disorders, alcohol
use disorders, tobacco use disorders, epilepsy
and high suicidal risk behaviour. The findings
from the NMHS were used to assess the
burden and treatment gap for these disorders.
• Suicide
The National Crime Records Bureau
(44) under the Ministry of Home Affairs,
Government of India routinely collects,
compiles, and analyses crime related data
from all the states across the country and
publishes them on an annual basis as two
sets of reports: Crime in India and Accidental
Deaths & Suicides in India. Data related to the
number of suicides and its distribution by age
and gender were taken from the 2014 report.
• Qualitative data
The SMHSA also included qualitative data
for areas where obtaining quantitative data
was not possible or was difficult to obtain. For
such elements, the data was collected through
desk review of available administrative
records at various levels or through personal
communication with the State Nodal Officer
for Mental Health. The data thus obtained was
finally validated at the consensus meeting.
4.3.6 Guidelines for data
collection
A separate document, outlining the steps
for data collection was drafted to assist
SMHSA
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