India (Commonwealth Union)_ India’s mental health scenario was extremely slow until 2020, when COVID-induced lockdown began to have a negative effect on people’s mental health. One of the primary measures implemented during lockdowns was the closing down of schools and educational institutions, as well as the introduction of work-from-home policies. These inescapable, out-of-the-ordinary conditions induced tension, stress, and a general sense of powerlessness.
The introduction of the Mental Healthcare Act in 2017 was a significant event for the year. This Act was intended for mental healthcare and services for individuals with mental disorders and to safeguard, promote, and fulfill the rights of such individuals throughout the provision of mental healthcare and services, and for other purposes. However, the necessity of mental health coverage in health insurance did not get major attention until after the COVID-19-driven lockdowns.
According to Amjad Khan, director of employee benefit practice and international business at Anand Rathi Insurance Brokers, “A rising number of individuals battle with some type of behavioral health issue, and India has one of the highest prevalence rates of mental disease in the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) data, India has the greatest number of depressed people in the world: one in every three people in India suffers from depression/anxiety or some form of mental disorder. Data indicate that India Inc. will incur massive economic losses due to the rise in mental health conditions, and the resulting absenteeism could cause alarmingly low levels of productivity.”
In addition to physical health, he noted that mental health issues captured everyone’s attention only during the pandemic. There was a major push by the Indian government, which, under Ayushman Bharat, provides health insurance of up to INR 5 lakh, including mental health coverage. In addition, the insurance industry regulator Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) also supported the government in making mental healthcare accessible to all by requiring health insurance carriers to include mental diseases within the scope of health insurance coverage. Khan added: “Currently, a mental health insurance policy might offer limited coverage and is an add-on benefit under a health plan. However, going further, with the development in the mental healthcare infrastructure, the insurance companies will make the cover more extensive and standalone.”
