MENTAL healthcare is the legal right of every Indian under the law. But the state of mental health infrastructure in India is inadequate.
According to the 2016 National Mental Health Survey by the National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), there is hardly one psychiatrist per 100,000 people in India. This is extremely low given that mental illness constitutes nearly one-sixth of all health-related disorders in the country. This has mainly been due to a lack of resources and expertise in the field. It is also a fact that for decades, mental health has not been a priority and, compounded by low literacy, traditional and religious beliefs, awareness about it is also poor. Mental health specialists are mainly concentrated in India’s southern states and urban centres. The ‘treatment gap’ is large, especially in rural areas. And the COVID-19 pandemic has only added to the problem.
The stigma attached to mental illness is one of the main reasons behind those with issues reluctant to seek help – especially among disadvantaged groups. The cost of treatment is another factor, and to help marginalised communities, NGOs have stepped in as providers of mental healthcare. Here are 10 nonprofits that are reaching out to underserved people with mental disorders.