World Mental Health Day 2025 emphasizes that there is no health without mental health, aligning with India's initiatives to incorporate psychosocial support via innovative frameworks and digital solutions.
World Mental Health Day is observed globally on October 10 each year to raise awareness about mental health issues and mobilize support for mental well-being. Initiated by the World Federation for Mental Health in 1992, this day has evolved into a platform for stakeholders to discuss mental health concerns and advocate for accessible care worldwide.
The theme for World Mental Health Day 2025 is "Mental Health in Humanitarian Emergencies", focusing on the psychological needs of populations affected by conflicts, natural disasters, and public health crises. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around one in five people in conflict-affected areas experience a mental health condition.
Global Mental Health Crisis
There exists a critical gap in humanitarian response to mental health as more than 727,000 lives are lost to suicide annually. The aim is for 33% reduction in the number of deaths by 2030, but progress stands at just 12%.
This challenge becomes even more critical when viewed through the lens of global displacement. By the end of 2024, over 123 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide, with 71% hosted in low- and middle-income countries where health systems are already strained.
These individuals have fled conflict, persecution, and disaster often carrying the invisible wounds of trauma, loss, and uncertainty. This reality underscores the urgent need for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) as a life-saving intervention, not merely a secondary concern.
India's Mental Health Crisis
India faces a severe mental health crisis that extends far beyond emergency contexts. According to the WHO, India's mental health burden stands at 2443 Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) per 100,000 population, indicating that the system struggles even during non-crisis periods.
The age-adjusted suicide rate is 21.1 per 100,000 population, with the projected economic loss due to mental health conditions between 2012 and 2030 estimated at USD 1.03 trillion.
Additionally, the treatment gap is alarming, over four in five persons with severe illness receive no formal care due to stigma, high cost, and a severe shortage of professionals, with treatment gaps ranging from 70% to 92%.
Workforce Crisis: India's Mental Health Professional Shortage
India severely lacks psychiatrists, with just 0.75 per 100,000 people, compared to the WHO minimum of 1.7 and the ideal of 3. Similar shortages exist for nurses, psychologists, and social workers.
Despite policies like the Mental Healthcare Act (2017) which decriminalized suicide and the National Suicide Prevention Strategy (2022) aimed at reducing suicide-related deaths by 10%, suicides have continued to rise. The ₹270-crore mental health budget has been largely unspent, leaving policies undeveloped and ineffective.
Mental Health and Disasters in India
India's experience with natural disasters demonstrates the psychological toll of humanitarian emergencies. Studies following the 2013 Uttarakhand disaster documented that approximately 58% of survivors experienced Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), alongside significant levels of depression and anxiety.
The 2018 Kerala floods similarly caused widespread displacement and psychological distress. Survivors commonly have anxiety disorders, complicated grief, and substance use disorders.
Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable, often displaying symptoms such as school refusal, scholastic decline, and conduct problems. The emotional toll extends to families and entire communities, necessitating sustained, collective support.
Global Framework: Beyond Basic Relief
The WHO Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2030 sets clear actions for Member States to promote mental health and well-being with measurable global targets. The WHO Framework for Mental Health, Brain Health and Substance Use (2024) provides practical insights for integrated responses to mental health, neurological, and substance use conditions.
Mental health is also integrated into the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3. The Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) by WHO scales up services for mental, neurological and substance use disorders. Additionally, the Paro Declaration promotes universal access to people-centred mental health care and services.
The international response to mental health in emergencies has evolved beyond basic relief. The MHPSS Minimum Service Package (MSP) provides a coordinated framework ensuring timely, evidence-based care across Health, Education, Protection, and Emergency Services. It facilitates advocacy and ensures prompt responses through tiered support systems, strengthening accountability in humanitarian mental health care delivery.
India's Policy Framework: Strengths and Gaps
India has established comprehensive frameworks affirming commitment to mental well-being. The Mental Healthcare Act (MHA) of 2017 upholds a rights-based approach to service provision, aligning with the United Nations Convention on Rights of People with Disabilities.
The National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), operational since 1982, ensures minimum mental healthcare for vulnerable populations. The District Mental Health Program (DMHP) has been approved across 767 districts. The DMHP uses a community-based approach and trains health workers using the Mental Health Gap Action Program (mhGAP) intervention guide.
The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS) serves as the Nodal Center for Psychosocial Support in Disaster Management, organizing workshops on Psychological First Aid and preparedness programs.
Despite these structures, academic analyses conclude that support for disaster survivors remains largely unmet, uncoordinated, and unattended in the field. This policy-practice divide stems from weak integration between health and disaster management sectors. MHPSS is often relegated to post-crisis recovery rather than immediate response, resulting in higher rates of chronic psychiatric conditions.
Tele-MANAS: India's Digital Mental Health Solution
India's National Tele-Mental Health Programme (Tele-MANAS) represents a scalable solution for delivering immediate MHPSS intervention. The program operates 53 cells across India, offering 24x7 support in 20 languages, and has handled over 20 lakh calls as of April 2025.
Tele-MANAS (helpline: 14416) operates through a two-tier system of counsellors and specialists (clinical psychologists and psychiatrists) who handle complex cases via eSanjeevani video consultations.
However, technical issues like poor internet connectivity and inadequate equipment and issues with the management of the workforce impact the efficacy.
Policy Recommendations for India
To align India's response with the World Mental Health Day 2025 mandate, systemic adjustments are required:
- MHPSS Integration with Disaster Management: The National Disaster Management Authority must integrate MHPSS Minimum Service Package principles into all disaster management plans.
- Workforce Stabilization: Establishing standards for Tele-MANAS counsellors to ensure fair remuneration and quality service delivery. The target must be three to five mental health professionals per 1,00,000 population within five years.
- Specialized Support: High-risk groups including farmers, homemakers, students, abuse survivors, and caregivers need targeted outreach.
- Digital Regulation: Ensure regulation of emotional-support apps and AI tools, embedding crisis-response directions and providing access to licensed professionals.
- Data and Research: Mandate standardized MHPSS reporting frameworks across all responding sectors and fund longitudinal studies to validate culturally sensitive Indian MHPSS models.
Conclusion
World Mental Health Day 2025 provides a mandate to rethink responses to the psychological costs of humanitarian crises. India has established important frameworks like the Mental Healthcare Act 2017 and the Tele-MANAS platform. However, more needs to be done to address operational challenges and coordination gaps that limit their effectiveness.
In line with the World Mental Health Day 2025 theme of "Mental health in humanitarian emergencies," India must move beyond acknowledgment to evidence-based integration. Only by closing the gap between policy and implementation can India safeguard the psychological well-being of its populations and build resilience in the face of escalating crises.
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World Mental Health Day FAQs
1. When is World Mental Health Day observed?
Ans. October 10 annually.
2. What is the World Mental Health Day 2025 theme?
Ans. Mental Health in Humanitarian Emergencies.
3. Who initiated World Mental Health Day?
Ans. World Federation for Mental Health in 1992.
4. What is Tele-MANAS in India?
Ans. A 24x7 national tele-mental health program operating in 20 languages.
5. When was India's Mental Healthcare Act passed?
Ans. 2017.