While health spending may have increased since FY2014-15, specific allocations for mental health services have historically been small, around 1% of the total health budget. To cater to the growing need for quality mental health services, the Central government has integrated mental health services in Ayushman Bharat calling them Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs). Also, mental health services have been added to the package of services under comprehensive primary health care provided at these centres. Moreover, Tele MANAS (Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States) is a 24x7, free initiative in India providing mental health support via toll-free helplines 14416 or 1-800-891-4416. While this rise is often cited as progress, it remains shockingly low in context, says Neha Kirpal, co-founder of Amaha and founding cohort member of the India Mental Health Alliance (IMHA), a network of stakeholders working on mental health issues.

Source: The Hindu February 08, 2026 03:12 UTC