Union Budget 2022: National Tele Mental Health Program To Be Launched In Bengaluru, Says FM Nirmala Sitharaman

NIMHANS in Bengaluru to be a nodal centre and IIIT Bengaluru will be providing the technical support for the program. The program includes 23 tele mental health centre of excellence

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday announced that the National Tele Mental Health program to be launched in Bengaluru considering the impact of the pandemic on people's mental health.

She further announced that NIMHANS in Bengaluru to be a nodal centre and IIIT Bengaluru will be providing the technical support for the program. The program includes 23 tele mental health centre of excellence.

"The pandemic has accentuated mental health problems in people of all ages. To better the access to quality mental health counselling and care services, a National Tele Health Program will be launched," The Finance Minister said in the Budget 2022 speech in Parliament on Tuesday.

The pandemic has accentuated mental health problems in people of all ages. To better the access to quality mental health counseling and care services, a National Tele Mental Health program will be launched: FM Nirmala Sitharaman #Budget2022 pic.twitter.com/pAvtg9PTZd

— ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2022

Responding to the Finance Minister's announcement about the program, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya thanked Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. 

Thank you PM @NarendraModi Ji & FM @NSitharaman Ji for announcing launch of National Tele-mental Health Programme in #AatmaNirbharBharatKaBudget

With a network of 23 tele-mental health Centres of Excellence under NIMHANS, it will ensure quality mental health counseling for all.

— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) February 1, 2022

In other response, the Karnataka health minister Dr Sudhakar K pointed out that the state mental health initiative has grabbed attention with its perseverance as 24-lakh tele counselling sessions were conducted since the outbreak of the deadly Covid-19 in the country.

Of the 24-lakh tele consulting program started by the state, seven lakh sessions were recorded during the peak of the second wave of Covid-19 in May, reports Times of India.

Rajit Mehta, MD & CEO, Antara Senior Care and MD, Max India, has also lauded the government's initiative. He said, "The interests of the seniors have often taken a back seat under government allocation, but unlike past years, there has been an increased focus from the government on the changing needs of seniors this year."

"Initiatives such as the National Tele-Mental Health Programme, National Digital Health Ecosystem, and an increase in NPS tax exemption of 14% from the existing 10% for State Govt. employees give a strong signal that the government is proactively looking at measures to create a conducive ecosystem for seniors. We welcome these steps towards an emphasis on geriatric health and overall lifestyle for seniors," he added.

The reports further pointed out that as of October 15, the number of Covid-19 positive people counselled exceeded 15 lakh while about 8.8 lakh people counselled were under home quarantine and passengers from other states and countries.