The Union health ministry has re-strategised the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) for community based approach with an allocation of Rs.1000 crore, making mental health services available at the primary care level and integrating it into general health care. The ministry proposes to produce 1756 mental health workers every year in the country for this purpose.

The government's action in this regard comes in the wake of the realisation that community-based psycho-social interventions in Orissa cyclone, Gujarat earthquake, tsunami and J&K earthquake have shown significant decrease in distress among survivors leading to an overall improvement in the quality of life. Community-based surveys show that prevalence of mental disorders in India is 6-7 per cent for common mental disorders and 1-2 per cent for severe mental disorders.

With such a magnitude of mental disorders it becomes necessary to promote mental health services for the well being of general population, in addition to provide treatment for mental illnesses. However, there is a huge gap of acute shortage of qualified mental health professionals in the country.

In order to address this issue, the ministry has announced the schemes ‘Centre of Excellence’ and ‘Manpower Development’ under the NMHP.

Under the Centre of Excellence in Mental Health Programme, 11 existing mental health hospitals and institutes will be upgraded and strengthened to produce qualified manpower. Rs. 30 crore per centre will be given for academic block, library, hostel, laboratories, supportive departments and lecture theatres. Total budget under this scheme will be Rs 330 crore. As a result of which an additional 44 P.G. seats in psychiatry, 176 M.Phil seats in clinical psychology and psychiatric social works and 220 seats in diploma in psychiatric nursing will be available every year.

The Manpower Development scheme intends to provide manpower in mental health training centres. Under this scheme, government will support starting PG courses or increasing the intake capacity for PG training in mental health, for establishing and improving department in specialities of mental health in government medical colleges and government general hospitals.

The government will provide assistance for setting up and strengthening of 30 units of psychiatry, 30 departments of clinical psychology, 30 departments of PSW, 30 departments of psychiatric nursing and support of upto Rs. 51 lakh to Rs. 1 crore per PG department.

Total outlay will be about Rs 70 crore. The expected outcome of the manpower development schemes is 1756 mental health professionals annually, which includes 104 psychiatrists, 416 clinical psychologists, 416 psychiatric social workers and 820 psychiatric nurses.