The Finance Minister starting her speech expressed empathy for those who had to bear adverse health and economic effects of the pandemic, and announced that a National Tele-mental health programme will be soon launched to provide mental healthcare. The introduction of this programme will take mental healthcare services and counselling to underserved regions in the country.
She said that the pandemic has emphasized mental health complications in people of all ages. A national tele-mental health programme will be launched to improve the access to quality mental health counseling and care services. This will include a network of 23 tele-mental health centres of excellence with The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences being the nodal centre and International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), providing technology assistance.
According to WHO, about 7.5% Indians experience mental health issues. Around 56 million Indians suffer from depression and over 38 million people in India suffer from anxiety. The initiation of Tele-mental health service will aid in countering the challenge of health worker deficiency.
The government in its last Union Budget had placed health and well-being as the first of its 6 pillars, and with India into its third year into the Covid pandemic, that focus has reflected in this year’s Union Budget as well.