Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jan 3: Mental health experts have raised serious concerns over the massive treatment gap in India, revealing that nearly 80–85 per cent of people with psychiatric disorders do not receive timely or appropriate care due to stigma, lack of awareness, and insufficient healthcare integration. The warning came during the curtain-raiser event of the 77th Annual National Conference of the Indian Psychiatric Society (ANCIPS 2026) in Delhi.
Experts emphasised that mental illnesses are among the most treatable health conditions if detected early and managed properly. Dr. Savita Malhotra, President of the Indian Psychiatric Society, highlighted, “Mental health disorders are highly treatable, yet most patients in India continue to suffer in silence. The fact that over 80 per cent do not receive timely psychiatric care reflects deep-rooted stigma, lack of awareness, and inadequate integration of mental health services into primary healthcare. This is not just a medical issue; it is a social, economic, and developmental concern demanding urgent national attention.”
Data from the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) indicate that India faces one of the widest treatment gaps globally, with more than 85 per cent of individuals with common mental disorders not seeking or receiving care. Globally, over 70 per cent of people with mental illness lack access to trained healthcare professionals, and in many low-income countries, fewer than 10 per cent receive necessary treatment.
Dr. Nimesh G. Desai, former Director of the Institute of Human Behaviour & Allied Sciences (IHBAS), warned of the consequences of delayed psychiatric care. “When treatment is postponed, illnesses often become chronic and more severe, causing greater disability, family distress, loss of productivity, and a higher risk of self-harm and suicide. Mental health must be treated with the same urgency as physical health.”
Experts stressed that bridging this treatment gap requires strengthening community-based mental health services, training primary care physicians, and improving referral mechanisms. Untreated mental illness not only affects individuals and families but also has broader societal and economic consequences, contributing to substance abuse, unemployment, family breakdown, and India’s high suicide rates.
While government initiatives like the Tele-MANAS helpline, expansion of the District Mental Health Programme, and increased policy focus are steps in the right direction, experts called for a substantial scale-up of these efforts to meet India’s growing mental health needs.
The conference underlined that addressing mental health early and comprehensively is vital to reducing disability, enhancing productivity, and saving lives, making it a national public health priority.