Mental Health in India: The Pathway to Zero

Abstract In 2017, in India, 197.3 million people were estimated to have mental illnesses with a disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rate of 2,443. A treatment gap of over 80% exacerbates the high burden of disease. The review article identifies the varied risk factors that lead to poor mental health to determine the interventions needed. Through a careful survey of literature and consultation with experts, the authors then go on to ascertain the interventions required to address these risk factors across the dimensions of resilience, reduce, recognise and recovery, from the five domains of social determinants of health, public health, primary care, hospital care and long-term care. The simulation exercise that follows, quantifies the impact of these interventions. There are two sets of interventions. One set is readily implementable and has the potential to reduce the disease burden from a projected 2040 DALY Rate of 3300 to 600, with improvements in social determinants contributing significantly. The second set has the potential to reduce the burden further, even to zero, and requires deeper policy change at the national level.