Prioritizing rural and community mental health in India

Abstract

With a huge population of 1.3 billion and deficient mental health personnel and infrastructure, India needs newer strategies for rural and community mental health care. There is a huge and unmet gap in mental health services, which needs our immediate attention. The National Mental Health Program and District Mental Health Program have made very welcome beginnings, but they are a long way off from even remotely reaching an optimal coverage. Nongovernmental organizations have been playing their important part as well. However, an important impetus can potentially come from the new mental health policies and legislation, which are in keeping with the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Still, there is a lot to be done. The rural mental health services are often neglected and need immediate attention considering the burden of disease and treatment gap. Identifying the economic, social, and political barriers to the utilization of existing services would strengthen the delivery and utilization of these services. The mental health professional should be at the helm of leading and heralding the changes needed. This provides us with the challenge, as well as an opportunity.