State Directs Districts to Boost Mental Health Programs

Maharashtra's state public health department has issued directives to all districts, emphasizing the robust implementation of the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP). The program aims to expand access to essential mental healthcare services, including treatment, counselling, screening, and follow-up care, at all government healthcare facilities across the state.

These instructions followed a critical report on September 6, 2026, highlighting a severe deficit of functional inpatient psychiatric units in district hospitals. This lack of facilities forces patients with serious mental health conditions to travel hundreds of kilometers for admission and treatment, placing an immense burden on the four regional mental hospitals in Pune, Thane, Nagpur, and Ratnagiri.

As of September 23, 2026, deputy directors of health services, district civil surgeons, and district health officers received the mandate to ensure comprehensive DMHP services. This includes outpatient and inpatient care, medication, counselling, and targeted interventions. The department stressed that staff previously reassigned to other duties must now be dedicated to district-level mental healthcare.

District authorities are tasked with ensuring screening, diagnosis, treatment, counselling, and follow-up for individuals with mental health conditions, with special attention to those with severe illnesses who may have missed treatment. Awareness campaigns and case-finding activities will be conducted through primary healthcare staff. The Tele-MANAS helpline, 14416, will be promoted for accessible support.