Mental health morbidities in Kerala, India: Insights from National Mental Health Survey, 2015-2016.

Background: The National Mental Health Survey was borne out of the felt need for a comprehensive epidemiological survey on mental health to understand the magnitude of psychiatric morbidities in India to aid in mental health policymaking, service planning, and delivery. Kerala was one of the 12 surveyed states, representing southern India.

Aims: To estimate the prevalence and pattern of various mental illnesses and substance use disorders in a representative sample from Kerala state.

The National Mental Health Survey of India (2016): Prevalence, socio-demographic correlates and treatment gap of mental morbidity.

Background: Recognizing the need for good quality, scientific and reliable information for strengthening mental health policies and programmes, the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) of India was implemented by National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, in the year 2015-2016.

Aim: To estimate the prevalence, socio-demographic correlates and treatment gap of mental morbidity in a representative population of India.

Methods: NMHS was conducted across 12 Indian states where trained field investigators completed 34,802 interviews using tablet-assisted personal interviews.