Mental Health System in the Most Populated State of India: Bounce from the Base of National Mental Health Survey 2015–2016

Background: Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, was part of The National Mental Health Survey 2015–2016. The survey evaluated mental health resources and treatment gaps while estimating the prevalence of mental health problems. This article assesses changes in mental health resources in the state over 7 years postsurvey. Methods: Surveyed in 2015–2016 in 12 Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh, the State Mental Health System Assessment used WHO instruments to evaluate the state’s mental health system across 10 domains on a Likert scale. Results: In 2015, there were only 0.15 psychiatrists available per 100,000 people in Uttar Pradesh. However, this increased to 0.46 by 2023. Medical colleges offering MBBS and postgraduate courses in Psychiatry have doubled and tripled, respectively. The coverage of districts under mental health programs has increased from 19% to 100% in Uttar Pradesh, though psychiatrists were not present in all the districts under these programs. Conclusion: The development of the resources for mental health in the past 7 years is substantial in Uttar Pradesh, though it still falls short of the recommended standards. Another assessment of the mental health treatment gap will give better insight into strategizing mental healthcare in Uttar Pradesh.