NEW DELHI: After a nine-year gap, the central govt has launched a fresh National Mental Health Survey to assess the scale of mental illness across India, expanding its coverage to all states and UTs for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic. National Mental Health Survey-2 (NMHS-2), being conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans), Bengaluru, will cover adolescents aged 13-17 years and all adults above 18. The previous survey, carried out in 2015-16, had covered only 12 states.Data from the earlier NMHS underlined the scale of the challenge. NMHS 2015-16 found that 10.6% of adults in India suffered from mental disorders, with lifetime prevalence estimated at 13.7%. National studies have since indicated that nearly 15% of India’s adult population experiences mental health conditions requiring clinical intervention. The burden was higher in urban areas at 13.5%, compared to 6.9% in rural regions.According to the health ministry, NMHS-2 will generate state-wise and national estimates of priority mental health conditions, assess disability and the social and economic burden on individuals and families, and track pathways to care and service utilisation. The survey will also include a comprehensive mapping of mental health services and resources across states and UTs.The scope of NMHS-2 has been widened to study vulnerable groups such as children, women, the elderly, migrants and tribal populations, and to examine the mental health impact of climate change, disasters and displacement.Health officials said the findings are expected to strengthen the National Mental Health Programme, guide allocation of resources and inform future policy decisions, particularly in underserved and high-risk regions.
