Srinagar, Feb 3: The Union Budget 2026-27 presented on Sunday by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has placed mental health at the heart of Indiaís public healthcare agenda. This is a major shift that will allocate substantial resources to expand mental health infrastructure nationwide.
For J&K, which battles mental health and substance abuse crisis, this focus and budget allocation could be the much awaited boost for decentralisation of services.
The announcement to establish National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS-2) in North India is the headline part of the announcements made.
It will help in bridging the long-standing regional gap in advanced mental healthcare and research.
The budget also mandates expansion in trauma and emergency mental health services at district hospitals.
This move is aimed at improving access during crises, saving lives, reduce the number of self-harm attempts and incidents and bring about a dip in demand for substances of abuse.
For the first time, mental and behavioural healthcare has been formally recognised as an essential health service.
The dedicated funding to integrate it as part of primary and secondary healthcare systems has long been seen as a much needed change to address stigma and taboo.
For J&K, which has seen epidemic of depression, and substance abuse due to decades of violence and many natural disasters, decentralisation is critical.
It becomes all the more important given the difficult terrain and accessibility issues due to snowfall and long winters.
Cumulative trauma, unemployment and social uncertainty demand a dedicated mental health service in all hospitals. IMHANS Srinagar treated nearly 2 lakh patients last year.
However, services remain overstretched and understaffed.
Prof Yasir Hassan, Secretary JK Psychiatry Society, said the Union Budget is a great start to recognising the WHO slogan that there is No health without mental health.
He said setting up another NIMHANS in north India and upgrading few of existing institutes, with increased allocation to Telemanas are all steps in the right direction. ìWe hope that in future it is followed with integration of mental health with general heath at primary care level and making psychiatry care inclusive and necessary to comprehensive health care,î Dr Hassan said.
He said the announcement was landmark shift in Indian health care policy.
ìIf implemented effectively, this could go a long way in reducing Indiaís mental health treatment gap,î Dr Hassan said.
The health sector allocation has risen by nearly 7 percent.
It has crossed Rs 1 lakh crore for the first time.
Non-communicable diseases, affordable cancer treatment and geriatric care have been focused on.