Community-based mental health services in India: Focus on improvement of Mental Health Services in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs)

Global estimates by WHO suggest that around 12% of global burden of disorders are accounted by the mental and behavioural disorders. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) account for almost three quarters of this global burden of mental and behavioural disorders and majority of the population have no access to mental health services. Thus, public health measures are of extreme importance and should be a development priority. Public health measures with the integration of the mental health services in the primary health systems offers the most sustainable and effective model for the LMICs with low resources. The National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) was launched in 1982 as a major step forward for the mental health services in India. Despite efforts to energise and scale up the programme from time-to-time progression in the development of community based mental health services and in achieving the desired outcomes in India has been slow. There is an urgent need to have a fresh look at the implementation of the programme with focus on achieving sustainable improvements in a time limited manner.