Government Fails To Recognise Mental Health
New Zealand has set an example by being the first country to build a budget largely around mental wellbeing and I urge the Indian Government to follow suit. In a country like ours where prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, suicide rates are alarming and on an ever rise, and where a majority of the population is crippled by the deep-rooted cultural stigma of seeking help, mental health is rarely given the attention it deserves.
According to WHO Mental Health Atlas 2017, every US$ 1 invested in boosting treatment for depression and anxiety will, in turn, lead to a return of US$ 4 towards overall better health and ability to work. Research states that China and India account for about one-third of the global burden of mental illness. Bloom et al. estimate the economic burden of mental health conditions to be $1.03 trillion by 2030 in India alone.
Given the current scenario, it is appalling and disheartening to know that the Union Budget allocates meagre funds towards the development of mental healthcare facilities in India. In other words, the Government fails to treat mental health and physical health at par. Out of the total Health Budget, a negligible 0.06 per cent is spent on mental health. In the Budget for 2018-19, the Government allocated only INR 50 crores for the National Mental Health Programme. Mental health has always been largely ignored and without sufficient monetary funding, it is almost impossible to work towards implementing the various clauses outlined in the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 with respect to awareness campaigns, infrastructure development and capacity building, among others.
I find it imperative that the Government is sensitive towards the needs of its citizens and takes the first step by allocating sufficient funds for mental health and be at the forefront of aiding the various other stakeholders in the field to bridge the care gap. With the policy framework in place, appropriate budget allocation will aid in effective implementation and changing the ground root reality. It will rightly help in dealing with not only issues relating to mental health concerns but with social exclusion, marginalization and development. In its true sense, let’s advocate for good quality, accessible and affordable mental health care facilities by demanding adequate budget allocation.
