Mental Health Disorders Affect 7.3% of Adolescents in India: Government Report

Mental Health Statistics Among Adolescents

New Delhi, Dec 6: The Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, revealed on Thursday that approximately 7.3% of adolescents aged 13-17 years in 12 states are affected by mental health disorders, according to the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS).

To enhance access to mental health services, the government initiated the "National Tele Mental Health Programme" on October 10, 2022.

In response to a query in Lok Sabha, Jadhav noted that the NMHS conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in 2015-16 indicated this prevalence rate.

The Minister also introduced the Tele-MANAS Mobile Application, designed to support individuals facing mental health challenges, ranging from general well-being to serious disorders.

This application has been updated to include 10 additional regional languages—Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Odia, and Punjabi—alongside English and Hindi.

Furthermore, the Tele-MANAS platform is accessible to visually impaired users through a specially designed interface and a toll-free phone line that does not require screen interaction.

As of November 27, 36 states and union territories have established 53 Tele-MANAS Cells, offering services in 20 languages as per state preferences. Since its launch, over 29.82 lakh calls have been received on the helpline.

In the current year alone, the Tele-MANAS platform has managed 12.33 lakh calls, according to the Minister.

The government has also introduced video consultation options under Tele-MANAS, enhancing the existing audio call services.

Highlighting collaborative efforts, Jadhav mentioned the Ministry of Education's initiative, Manodarpan, aimed at providing psychosocial support to students, their families, and educators nationwide.

This initiative focuses on the mental health and well-being of students in schools, colleges, and universities, particularly those preparing for competitive exams.

Additionally, the University Grants Commission (UGC) released guidelines on April 13, 2023, promoting physical fitness, sports, and mental health welfare in higher education institutions.

These guidelines aim to foster physical activity, mitigate academic and peer pressure, and encourage positive thinking and emotional support among students.