Second Phase of National Mental Health Survey Launched in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala's State Health Minister Veena George announced that the second phase of the National Mental Health Survey has officially begun in Kerala. The survey is being conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

In Kerala, the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Community Medicine at Alappuzha Government Medical College are leading the project. 

The main objective of the survey is to understand the mental health status of people in the state. It aims to identify how widespread mental health problems are among adults and adolescents. The survey will also look at the level of disability caused by these conditions, the financial and emotional impact on families, the stress faced by caregivers, and whether existing mental health services are enough to meet the needs of the people.

The survey will be conducted in five districts of Kerala—Alappuzha, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Wayanad, and Palakkad. In addition, four urban centres—Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Thrissur, and Kozhikode—have been selected to ensure that both rural and urban populations are included.

An expert advisory committee is overseeing the project in the state. The committee is led by Dr. Rajan N. Khobragade, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Health Department. Other key members include Dr. K.V. Vishwanathan, the Director of Medical Education, and Dr. K.J. Reena, the Director of Health Services.

The principal investigators of the survey in Kerala are Dr. Vidhu Kumar K, Head of the Department of Psychiatry, and Dr. Vishwakala V.S., Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Medicine. They are supported by a team of co-investigators including Dr. Sumesh T.P., Dr. Mariyam Raji Alex, Dr. Ramya G., Dr. Ganga G. Kaimal, and Dr. Shalim S.—all faculty members at Alappuzha Government Medical College.

This survey is part of a national effort to better understand mental health conditions and their impact. The first phase, conducted in 2015–16, revealed that nearly one in ten Indians suffer from some form of mental health disorder. The second phase aims to expand the data collection to more states and include newer concerns such as adolescent mental health and the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.