The Indian city of Hyderabad is set to conduct a national mental health survey to assess the state of mental health in the country. The survey is expected to be conducted in two phases and will cover all states and union territories.
The survey is being conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS) in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The first phase of the survey will involve a household-level survey to identify individuals with mental health conditions. The second phase will involve a detailed clinical assessment of these individuals to determine the nature and severity of their conditions.
The survey will cover a range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and substance abuse. The findings of the survey will be used to develop policies and programs to address the mental health needs of the population.
India has a high burden of mental health disorders, with an estimated 150 million people in the country affected by mental illness. However, there is a significant treatment gap, with many individuals not receiving adequate care due to a lack of resources and stigma surrounding mental health issues. The national mental health survey is expected to provide valuable data to help address this gap and improve mental health services in the country.
In the coming days, the first-ever National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) focusing on the urban population aged 13-18 will commence in Hyderabad and five other cities. The study will also be carried out in the cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Bangalore in addition to Hyderabad.
This text describes a new poll that will be conducted in Hyderabad, India to study the prevalence of mental health concerns, with a focus on the impact of Covid-19 on adolescents aged 13 to 18.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted everyone globally, but the impact on adolescents is often overlooked. A new poll to study the prevalence of mental health concerns among adolescents in Hyderabad, India, with a focus on COVID-19 impact, can provide critical insights into how the pandemic has affected this demographic.
The poll can collect data on a range of mental health concerns, such as anxiety, depression, and stress, among adolescents aged 12-18 years. Additionally, the poll can also collect data on how the pandemic has affected their academic performance, social relationships, and access to mental health services.
To ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data, the poll can use validated and standardized screening tools, such as the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale. The poll can be conducted online or in-person and can include a sample size of at least 1000 participants.
The data collected from this poll can inform policymakers, healthcare providers, and educators about the mental health needs of adolescents in Hyderabad and the impact of COVID-19 on their well-being. This information can help in developing appropriate policies and interventions to address the mental health concerns of this vulnerable population. Ultimately, the goal is to promote mental health and well-being among adolescents, which can have long-term positive effects on their academic, social, and personal development.
When the NMHS was last done in 2016 both in rural and urban regions, however it excluded respondents aged 13 to 18. The poll, which will include in-depth questions on life after Covid-19, will be conducted in the city by researchers at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) and the Erragadda government hospital for mental treatment.
“During the previous NMHS, it was noticed that urban areas had a higher prevalence of mental health concerns, prompting the current urban-specific study. A wider demographic, including those in the age range of 13–18 due to the cost-pandemic nature of the project. Questions about post-pandemic anxiety continue to arise .
The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9),Hyderabad.
 Among the 3,500 persons surveyed in Hyderabad, 10% were between the ages of 13 and 18. Fifty-odd locations around the city were chosen at random to participate in the study. One-third of the population lives in slums, hence 60 centres have been established to citywide slums that number above 20 (both officially recognised and unrecognised).
Around 17 survey tools will cover the majority of the 70 questions. Adolescents are the focus of a number of queries that probe into, among other things, why and how much time they spend with various electronic devices. Gambling and cell phone dependence will also be measured by the questions. Alcohol and drug misuse are linked.
They want to know whether they’re experiencing mental health problems as a result of the pandemic, the effect that the Covid-19 fatalities have had on their family, and if they should be vaccinated despite their fears.
The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurological Sciences (NIMHANS) is again serving as the survey’s coordinating body, as it did in 2016. Around one in twenty adults in the United States is now experiencing depression, and one in forty has had depression in the past.
