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India's Teen Mental Health Crisis: 7.3% Affected in 12 States, Centre Reveals

A recent government survey reveals a significant mental health concern among Indian teenagers. The National Tele Mental Health Programme and its Tele-MANAS app are key initiatives expanding access to care. These services now support more regional languages and have handled millions of calls. Additionally, the Manodarpan initiative focuses on providing psychosocial support within the education system.

Key Points: 7.3% Teen Mental Health Disorder Rate in 12 States: Centre

  • National Mental Health Survey finds 7.3% disorder rate among teens in 12 states
  • Tele-MANAS app now supports 12 languages, including 10 new regional ones
  • Over 29.8 lakh calls handled on the national mental health helpline since launch
  • Manodarpan initiative provides psychosocial support to students and teachers nationwide
3 min read

7.3 pc prevalence of mental health disorders among 13-17-year-olds in 12 states: Centre

Centre reveals 7.3% mental health disorder prevalence among 13-17-year-olds in 12 states, details Tele-MANAS expansion and Manodarpan initiative.

"The prevalence of mental health disorders in the age group 13-17 years is about 7.3 per cent in 12 states - Minister Prataprao Jadhav"

New Delhi, Dec 5

The prevalence of mental health disorders in the age group 13-17 years is about 7.3 per cent in 12 states, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav said on Thursday while sharing findings of a National Mental Health Survey (NHMS).

He said the government launched a “National Tele Mental Health Programme” on October 10, 2022, to further improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services in the country.

Jadhav, in reply to a question in Lok Sabha, said as per the NMHS, 2015-16 of India conducted by the Government through the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, in 12 States, the prevalence of mental health disorders in the age group 13-17 years is about 7.3 per cent.

The MoS said the Tele-MANAS Mobile Application is a comprehensive mobile platform that has been developed to provide support for mental health issues ranging from well-being to mental disorders.

Tele-MANAS Mobile Application has been expanded to include 10 additional regional languages — Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Odia, and Punjabi — along with the previously available languages, English and Hindi.

Tele-MANAS Mobile Application also assists visually challenged persons by making its mental health services accessible through a specially designed, user-friendly digital interface and a toll-free phone line that does not require screen use, said the MoS.

As of November 27, 36 States/ UTs have set up 53 Tele-MANAS Cells. Tele-MANAS services are available in 20 languages based on the language opted by the States. More than 29.82 lakh calls have been handled on the helpline number since its inception.

The total number of calls handled through the Tele-MANAS platform during the current year is 12.33 lakh, said the MoS.

The government has also launched the video consultation facility under Tele-MANAS, as another upgrade to the already existing audio calling facility.

Highlighting the joint efforts of the Education Ministry, Jadhav said, “The Ministry of Education (MoE) has launched an initiative, Manodarpan, to provide

psychosocial support to students, their families and teachers across the country, for mental health and well-being.”

He said that all activities undertaken under the Manodarpan initiative are aimed towards supporting the mental health and well-being of students from schools, colleges and universities, including those students who are preparing for competitive examinations.

The Mos said that the University Grants Commission (UGC) also issued Guidelines for Promotion of Physical Fitness, Sports, Students’ Health, Welfare, Psychological and Emotional Well-being at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) on April 13, 2023.

The guidelines provide for promotion of physical fitness and sports activities for students; creation of safeguards against academic pressure, peer pressure, behavioural issues, stress, career concerns, depression and other issues on the mental health of students; to teach positive thinking and emotions in the student community; and to promote a positive and supportive network for students, he said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Arjun K
Good to see the government taking concrete steps with Tele-MANAS and Manodarpan. The academic pressure on our kids, especially from class 10th onwards, is immense. We need more counselors in schools, not just for competitive exam stress but for overall well-being.
S
Sarah B
As someone who works with youth groups, I appreciate the focus on accessibility - the toll-free line and support for visually challenged persons is crucial. However, the real challenge is stigma. We need massive awareness campaigns to make seeking help as normal as going to a doctor for a fever.
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Rohit P
The number is probably higher in reality. Many families still dismiss anxiety or depression as "just a phase" or "laziness". The inclusion of so many Indian languages in the app is a game-changer for reaching tier 2 and 3 cities. Hope they promote it aggressively.
K
Karthik V
While the initiatives are commendable, I have a respectful criticism. The survey data is from 2015-16. That's nearly a decade old, and post-pandemic, the situation has likely worsened significantly. We need fresh, comprehensive data to tailor our response effectively. The programs are good, but are they enough for the scale of the problem?
M
Meera T
Manodarpan is a much-needed initiative. Teachers need training to identify signs of distress. It's not just about academics; social media pressure, family expectations, and navigating friendships are huge stressors for teens today. Glad to see a holistic approach being discussed.

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