Like other low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) in the region, India faces multiple
challenges in providing mental health care and services. Recent large scale surveys have
highlighted the magnitude and severity of the problem wherein there is limited access to
mental health services, dearth of mental health professionals, stigma, lower literacy and
poverty as well as inequities in resource allocation leading to a substantial treatment
gap. The treatment gap in India is estimated to be about 95%. Although India was one
of the first LMICs to start a National Mental Health Program with a district-level
component, this program has not been successful. In recent years, efforts have been
made to integrate mental health services within the public health system and with
primary health care using innovative measures such as community-based and mobile
technology based mental health interventions. It has also been recommended that efforts
can be made to enhance mental health and well-being using Yoga and other culturally
rooted interventions to enhance psychological resilience. Local and cultural perspectives
also need to be considered while planning for mental health services and establishing a
culturally sensitive health care system. These and related issues will be discussed in the
presentation.

Key words : Mental Health, low and middle income countries, Interventions, well-being