In a major push to strengthen mental healthcare infrastructure across India, the Government is actively implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), which aims to ensure accessible and affordable mental health services at all levels of care. The initiative includes a wide range of services under the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP), operational in 767 districts nationwide.
Under DMHP, support is extended to States and Union Territories through the National Health Mission, enabling Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) to provide outpatient care, psychological assessment, counselling, treatment for severe mental disorders, drug supply, and outreach services. Each district also includes a 10-bedded inpatient mental health facility.
To further strengthen mental healthcare at the tertiary level, the Government has sanctioned 25 Centres of Excellence to increase postgraduate training capacities and provide advanced treatment facilities. Additionally, 47 postgraduate departments in mental health specialties have been supported across 19 government medical colleges/institutions.
In terms of workforce development, the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) has approved:
69 institutions/universities to conduct courses in Clinical Psychology such as M.Phil., Psy.D., and Professional Diplomas
9 institutions/universities to run M.Phil. programs in Rehabilitation Psychology
New courses launched in 2024-25: B.Sc. and M.A. in Clinical Psychology
To bridge the treatment gap in underserved regions, online training modules for general medical and paramedical professionals are also being delivered via Digital Academies.
The Government has placed strong emphasis on awareness generation and stigma reduction, with Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns being conducted at schools, workplaces, and within communities to promote mental health literacy and acceptance.
Significantly, the Government is integrating mental healthcare services at the primary care level through the Ayushman Bharat initiative. Over 1.77 lakh Sub Health Centres and PHCs have been upgraded to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, where mental health services are now included in the Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) package. Operational guidelines and training manuals for Mental, Neurological, and Substance Use Disorders (MNS) have been released to equip healthcare workers at these centres.
In a digital leap, the National Tele Mental Health Programme (Tele-MANAS) was launched on October 10, 2022, offering 24/7 mental health support. As of July 17, 2025, the programme has:
Established 53 Tele-MANAS Cells across 36 States/UTs
Handled over 23.82 lakh calls on its national helpline
To further expand reach, the Tele-MANAS Mobile App was launched on World Mental Health Day (October 10, 2024). The app provides a digital platform for users seeking help with emotional well-being or mental health disorders, and now includes video consultation services, in addition to the existing audio calling feature.
These updates were shared by Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today, reaffirming the Government's comprehensive approach to mental health—spanning awareness, early detection, treatment, workforce development, and digital access.