Mind Matters: Karnataka Health Minister bats for mental health as a national priority

Bengaluru: In a strong push to elevate mental health on the national agenda, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Monday underscored that mental wellbeing is not merely a medical issue, but a critical component of national development.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Amaha Mental Health Centre in Bengaluru, Rao declared, “A mentally healthy citizen is more productive, more stable and contributes more meaningfully to society.”

Gundu Rao praised Amaha Centre’s initiative to create a dedicated space for comprehensive mental healthcare, and called for mental health to be fully integrated into India’s public health framework.

“Depression, ADHD, OCD, schizophrenia — these are no longer rare conditions. They’re now present in our schools, homes, and offices. The mental health crisis is real, and we must respond,” he emphasized.

The Minister also pointed to modern lifestyle stressors such as digital addiction, information overload, peer pressure, and chronic sleep deprivation as leading causes of the growing crisis.

He welcomed the Supreme Court’s recent directive mandating counselling infrastructure in schools, stressing the need to support children who face stress long before they even understand what it means.

Rao highlighted Karnataka’s proactive steps, including the incorporation of mental health as one of 14 key health indicators under the Ekarupa Arogya initiative.

“We are training ASHA workers, ANMs, and community officers to identify early signs of stress, depression and dementia — especially in rural and underserved areas,” he said.

Recognizing the complexity of mental healthcare, the Minister noted that unlike physical ailments, treating mental health involves continuous monitoring, emotional insight, and expert handling.

“This is where facilities like Amaha play a crucial role — in offering structured, long-term care with the right clinical support,” he said, assuring full cooperation from the Health department.

The launch of Amaha Centre represents a milestone in Karnataka’s mental health journey, aiming to bridge the gap between institutional care and community-based outreach.

As the state grapples with rising psychological distress across age groups, the focus now shifts from awareness to action.