Resources for Mental Health: A Review

Abstract

Mental health is one of the most neglected health sectors, not only in India but also in the developed countries. Historical factors, stigma, lack of understanding of the working of the brain and unavailability of effective treatment were some of the reasons for such neglect. Studies have pointed out that mental health has been neglected from either side, i.e., supply of resources for mental health as well as demand for mental
health. Supply of resources for mental health deals with various resources like human resource, funding, infrastructure, etc., that are required to provide adequate amount of services for mental health – promotion, treatment and rehabilitation. Demand for
mental health refers to how quickly or with what delay treatment for mental health is demanded. This paper takes a review of the state of resources for mental health at the global level and in India and reasons for it.