The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has launched a National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) across all metro cities in India.
This is the second such survey in 8 years and will begin in Mumbai where it will take into account a sample of approximately 3600 randomly selected individuals. The purpose of the study is to gauge the mental health and wellbeing of the citizens and understand how to improve the current mental health infrastructure and services in India.
The process, conducted by a team of trained mental health professionals who will undertake the field survey, involves talking to the chosen participants individually for up to 40 minutes on different aspects of mental health. A special section has been allotted to understand the after-effects of the pandemic, as well.
The survey, led by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), will cover major cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Chennai, among others.
The first NMHS exercise was held in 2015-16 and covered 12 states.
