The Indian government has unveiled an ambitious initiative to strengthen mental health services for women, aiming to tackle stress, trauma, and gender-specific challenges across the country.
The strategy combines modern healthcare, digital technology, legal safeguards, and social empowerment programs to create a comprehensive support system for women.
At the heart of this initiative is a major upgrade to mental health services nationwide. Primary healthcare facilities, including over 1.8 lakh Sub Health Centres and Primary Health Centres, now provide integrated mental health support. At the district level, programs under the National Mental Health Programme and District Mental Health Programme offer counseling, outpatient care, medication, and emergency assistance, ensuring women have access to professional support close to home.
Tertiary mental healthcare has also expanded, with 25 Centres of Excellence and dozens of postgraduate departments in government medical colleges dedicated to advancing mental health education and treatment. Across the country, 47 government-run mental hospitals, including three central institutions and all AIIMS facilities, now provide specialized care for women in need.
The National Tele Mental Health Programme, launched in 2022, has revolutionized access to mental health services. With 53 Tele MANAS cells operating in 36 states and territories, women can receive guidance in 20 languages, with over 29.8 lakh calls addressed to date. A dedicated mobile application offers video consultations and follow-up support, ensuring mental health care reaches even remote areas.
To address gender-specific stress and risks, the government has established 864 One Stop Centres and more than 14,600 Women Help Desks, alongside emergency support through Women Helpline-181 and ERSS-112. Complementary measures, including the Mission Shakti Portal, Safe City initiatives, AI-based railway surveillance, and the SHe-Box portal, provide prevention, monitoring, and redressal mechanisms for workplace harassment and violence, creating a safer and more supportive environment for women.
This multi-layered approach positions India as a leader in integrating mental health services with gender protection policies, offering both immediate care and long-term social empowerment for women nationwide.
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