Tele MANAS-A Comprehensive Mental Health Care Service in India: An opportunity for Health Insurance Sector

Dr. Brock Chisholm, the inaugural Director-General of the World Health Organization WHO), made a foresighted statement, in 1954, that true physical health can only exist in the absence of mental health". After more than 60 years, not much has changed in the situation. There have probably been mental health problems throughout human history, and it can be difficult to identify a single setting that gave rise to these worries.

- Saloni Sinha, Sakshi Khotani

D r. Brock Chisholm, the inaugural Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), made a foresighted statement, in 1954, that "true physical health can only exist in the absence of mental health". After more than 60 years, not much has changed in the situation. There have probably been mental health problems throughout human history, and it can be difficult to identify a single setting that gave rise to these worries. Genetic, biological, environmental, and cultural factors all play a role in the complex and multifaceted nature of mental health conditions. Historical accounts show that different cultures have identified and recorded mental health issues in different ways throughout history.

United Nations introduced Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were revised in 2015. Ever since, the various Goals and Targets of SDG 2030 still remain a grand challenge. One of the crucial global concern is SDG 3 which is all about promoting and guaranteeing healthy lives for people of all ages. Since mental health pertains to both physical and mental well-being, it is an essential part of SDG 3. India has come a long way in achieving SDG 3. Some of the path-breaking initiatives taken by the government in this regard are:

1. National Health Mission (NHM): The NHM is on a mission to improve the availability, accessibility and affordability of public health services in the areas of women's health, child health, water, sanitation and hygiene, immunisation, and nutrition especially for the poor, women, and children living in rural areas. It created a set of specific targets based on indicators as an important step toward achieving SDG 3.