Every tenth Indian suffers from one mental health problem or the other, notably depression. And mental illnesses are higher among urban dwellers than rural folk.
These are some of the key findings of a nationally representative mental health survey conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans), Bengaluru. The National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) was carried out in 12 states with funding coming from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The template for the survey was a pilot study conducted in Kolar district between January and November 2014.
The findings of the national survey were released here on Monday. G Gururaj, professor and head, Department of Epidemiology, Nimhans, said that Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Assam and Manipur were some of the states where the survey was carried out over two years. As many as 34,802 individuals were questioned and 10,152 households covered. In eight states, all the individuals were aged 18 years and above. In the remaining four states, those interviewed were 13 years old and above.
A team of 8-10 well-trained workers collected the data in each state, interviewing the respondents on mental health aspects, substance abuse, among other factors. The analysis of the findings was completed three months ago. Dr B N Gangadhar, director, Nimhans, said that the findings of the national survey were similar to those of the Kolar study. "We questioned 3,190 individuals (aged 13 years and above) and found about 8% of the population were suffering from mental illnesses in varied degrees," he said on the Kolar study.
Panel on mental health
Gururaj called for constituting a national commission on mental health consisting of professionals from mental health, public health, social sciences, the judiciary and the related backgrounds to oversee, support, monitor and review mental health policies, plans and programmes. "There is poor understanding of mental disorders among people. Workplaces and schools should offer mental health programmes," he added.![]( "Chief Justice of High Court S K Mukherjee (second from left) hands over a copy of 'National Mental Health Survey of India 2015-16' to Nimhans Director Prof B N Gangadhar at the 'World Mental Health Day' programme at Nimhans, in Bengaluru on Monday. Nimhans Dean, Prof S K Chaturvedi and former director Prof Satish Chandra look on. DH photo")
Every tenth Indian suffers from one mental health problem or the other, notably depression. And mental illnesses are higher among urban dwellers than rural folk.
These are some of the key findings of a nationally representative mental health survey conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans), Bengaluru. The National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) was carried out in 12 states with funding coming from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The template for the survey was a pilot study conducted in Kolar district between January and November 2014.
The findings of the national survey were released here on Monday. G Gururaj, professor and head, Department of Epidemiology, Nimhans, said that Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Assam and Manipur were some of the states where the survey was carried out over two years. As many as 34,802 individuals were questioned and 10,152 households covered. In eight states, all the individuals were aged 18 years and above. In the remaining four states, those interviewed were 13 years old and above.
A team of 8-10 well-trained workers collected the data in each state, interviewing the respondents on mental health aspects, substance abuse, among other factors. The analysis of the findings was completed three months ago. Dr B N Gangadhar, director, Nimhans, said that the findings of the national survey were similar to those of the Kolar study. "We questioned 3,190 individuals (aged 13 years and above) and found about 8% of the population were suffering from mental illnesses in varied degrees,” he said on the Kolar study.
Panel on mental health
Gururaj called for constituting a national commission on mental health consisting of professionals from mental health, public health, social sciences, the judiciary and the related backgrounds to oversee, support, monitor and review mental health policies, plans and programmes. "There is poor understanding of mental disorders among people. Workplaces and schools should offer mental health programmes,” he added.
These are some of the key findings of a nationally representative mental health survey conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans), Bengaluru. The National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) was carried out in 12 states with funding coming from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The template for the survey was a pilot study conducted in Kolar district between January and November 2014.
The findings of the national survey were released here on Monday. G Gururaj, professor and head, Department of Epidemiology, Nimhans, said that Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Assam and Manipur were some of the states where the survey was carried out over two years. As many as 34,802 individuals were questioned and 10,152 households covered. In eight states, all the individuals were aged 18 years and above. In the remaining four states, those interviewed were 13 years old and above.
A team of 8-10 well-trained workers collected the data in each state, interviewing the respondents on mental health aspects, substance abuse, among other factors. The analysis of the findings was completed three months ago. Dr B N Gangadhar, director, Nimhans, said that the findings of the national survey were similar to those of the Kolar study. "We questioned 3,190 individuals (aged 13 years and above) and found about 8% of the population were suffering from mental illnesses in varied degrees," he said on the Kolar study.
Panel on mental health
Gururaj called for constituting a national commission on mental health consisting of professionals from mental health, public health, social sciences, the judiciary and the related backgrounds to oversee, support, monitor and review mental health policies, plans and programmes. "There is poor understanding of mental disorders among people. Workplaces and schools should offer mental health programmes," he added.
Every tenth Indian suffers from one mental health problem or the other, notably depression. And mental illnesses are higher among urban dwellers than rural folk. These are some of the key findings of a nationally representative mental health survey conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans), Bengaluru. The National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) was carried out in 12 states with funding coming from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The template for the survey was a pilot study conducted in Kolar district between January and November 2014.
The findings of the national survey were released here on Monday. G Gururaj, professor and head, Department of Epidemiology, Nimhans, said that Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Assam and Manipur were some of the states where the survey was carried out over two years. As many as 34,802 individuals were questioned and 10,152 households covered. In eight states, all the individuals were aged 18 years and above. In the remaining four states, those interviewed were 13 years old and above.
A team of 8-10 well-trained workers collected the data in each state, interviewing the respondents on mental health aspects, substance abuse, among other factors. The analysis of the findings was completed three months ago. Dr B N Gangadhar, director, Nimhans, said that the findings of the national survey were similar to those of the Kolar study. "We questioned 3,190 individuals (aged 13 years and above) and found about 8% of the population were suffering from mental illnesses in varied degrees,” he said on the Kolar study.
Panel on mental health
Gururaj called for constituting a national commission on mental health consisting of professionals from mental health, public health, social sciences, the judiciary and the related backgrounds to oversee, support, monitor and review mental health policies, plans and programmes. "There is poor understanding of mental disorders among people. Workplaces and schools should offer mental health programmes,” he added.