National mental health survey of India 2015–2016

During the past few months, mental health has received public and media attention in an unprecedented manner. This was related to the release of the report of the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS).[1] Media referred to the findings of the report as follows: “India needs to talk about mental illness;”[2] “Every sixth Indian needs mental health help;”[3] “8% of people in Karnataka have mental illness;”[4] “Mental problems more in 30–49 age group or over 60; low income linked to occurrence of mental disorders;”[5] and “urban areas to be most affected”[2] were some of the headlines in the mass media. The NMHS[1] will be a milestone in understanding the epidemiology of mental disorders in the country. It is…