Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan Tuesday said that the government is in the process of developing India’s first mental health policy to curb the country’s mental illness burden.
“Looking at the growing mental illness burden, the government is developing a ‘National Mental Health Policy’ that will involve the country’s best experts in the field and cover the full range of complex issues linked to this branch of medicine,” he said.
The minister was on a day-long visit to the 155-year-old Institute of Mental Health and Hospital in Agra.
He said the government is also planning to set up several institutions replicating the National Institute for Mental Health and Neurological Sciences in Bangalore, so people suffering from mental illness can avail treatment.
He said the central government has granted Rs.28.8 crore to upgrade the infrastructure of the Agra hospital and expand the teaching facilities.
The World Health Organization has predicted that about 20 percent of India’s population will suffer from some form of mental illness by 2020.
In a significant step towards the cause, Harsh Vardhan said that now onwards, Oct 10 will be observed throughout the country as National Mental Health Day.
“It will be a day for raising people’s awareness on mental illnesses and removing the false perceptions attached to them,” he said.
“We want a nation that upholds the human rights of mental patients. Also, it will be an occasion to generate awareness against stigmatisation of people with mental illnesses and highlight the symptoms and remedial opportunities for those with depression, schizophrenia and bipolar syndrome,” he added.
The minister also went to the Agra Medical College, one of the oldest in the country, where he announced a scheme to upgrade it into an AIIMS-like super-speciality hospital. For this Rs.200 crore would be made available, of which Rs.170 crore would be provided by the central government and the rest by the state government.
Support Independent Community Journalism
Dear Reader,The Indian Sun exists for one reason: to tell stories that might otherwise go unheard.
We report on local councils, state politics, small businesses and cultural festivals. We focus on the Indian diaspora and the wider multicultural community with care, balance and accountability. We publish in print and online, send regular newsletters and produce video content. We also run media training programs to help community organisations share their own stories.
We operate independently.
Community journalism does not have the backing of large media corporations. Advertising revenue fluctuates. Platform algorithms change. Costs continue to rise. Yet the need for credible, grounded reporting in a multicultural Australia has never been greater.
When you support The Indian Sun, you support:
• Independent reporting on issues affecting migrant communities
• Coverage of local and state decisions that shape daily life
• A platform for small businesses and community groups
• Media training that builds skills within the community
• Journalism accountable to readers
We cannot cover everything, but we work to cover what matters.
If you value thoughtful reporting that reflects Australia’s diversity, we invite you to contribute. Every donation helps us maintain the quality and consistency of our work.
Please consider making a contribution today.
Thank you for your support.
The Indian Sun Team
