Govt funding institutes to overcome shortage of mental health

To address the shortage of mental health professionals in the country, the Centre has funded 15 Centres of Excellence in Mental Health and 35 post graduate training departments in mental health specialties.
"With the objective to address the shortage of mental health professionals in the country, 15 Centres of Excellence in Mental Health and... 35 PG training departments in mental health specialties to increase the PG training capacity in mental health as well as improving the tertiary care treatment facility have been funded," Union Health Minister J P Nadda said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
He said during the current Plan period (2012-17), the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) has been extended to 118 new districts in addition to the 123 districts of the 11th Five Year Plan period.

Under DMHP, enhanced financial assistance is being provided to the districts for detection, management and treatment of mental disorders and illness and additional components like suicide prevention services, work place stress management, life skills training and counselling in schools and colleges, among others.
"Financial support has been increased from Rs 46.37 lakhs to Rs 83.70 lakhs per district per year," Nadda said.
He said the government has also approved the continued implementation of the National Mental Health Programme during the 12th Five Year Plan period with additional components.
The financial support for establishment of each Centre of Excellence in the field of mental health has been increased from Rs 30 crores to Rs 33.70 crores per centre.

Nadda said the National Mental Health Policy's goals include reducing distress, disability, exclusion, morbidity and premature mortality associated with mental health problems in a person.