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Ishita Srivastava

NIMHANS-2 Set To Launch In North India, FM Nirmala Sitharaman Announces

Finance Minister <span>Nirmala Sitharaman</span> has announced the launch of National Institute of <span>Mental Health</span> and Neuro Sciences-2 in North <span>India</span>, making it the first in the area and second dedicated institute in the country during Union Budget 2026. 

"There are no national institutes for mental healthcare in north India,” the finance minister said. This forces patients to travel long distances for specialized treatment, training and research-linked care," Sitharaman said of the launch. 

The first National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS) is located in Bengaluru and serves as the apex center for mental health education and neuroscience research at present.

Initially named as the Bangalore Lunatic Asylum in 1847, the institution underwent changes in 1925 and was renamed Government Mental Hospital. However, in 1974, the institution was established as NIMHANS and was brought under the wing of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The launch of the new institute reaffirms the Union government’s commitment to mental health and <span>trauma</span> care and aims to address long-standing gaps in access to psychiatric and trauma care.

Namrata Jain, Psychotherapist and Relationship Expert, Founder of OutAloud Wellness told Healthandme: "These new hubs will finally bring quality care closer home, supporting the early intervention that stops a struggle from becoming a crisis. 

"Very importantly, they’ll provide the formal, high-quality training our professionals lack in today’s times and establish research centers that have been missing in India. It’s a major step toward making mental health a national priority and additionally decentralizing, destigmatizing, and decolonizing mental health."

<h2>India's Ongoing Mental Health Crisis</h2>

The Ministry of Health &amp; Family Welfare noted India contributes to 18 percent of the global population, and as per the <span>World Health Organization</span> (WHO), the burden of mental health problems in India is 2,433 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per 10,000 population. 

The age-adjusted suicide rate is per 21.1 per 1,00,000 population, and the economic loss between 2012-2030 is estimated at USD 1.03 trillion.

Another study published in 2024 in Cureus, quotes a previous study from early 2021 by UNICEF and Gallup that reveals that children in India were hesitant seeking help for mental health.

<strong>READ MORE: </strong><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/lucknow-university-professors-initiative-of-diary-as-mental-well-being-doctor-gets-patent-article-153539047" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Lucknow University Professor's Initiative Of Diary As Mental Well-being Doctor Gets Patent</a>

According to another 2024 study, the prevalence rate of mental health issues in children and teenagers in India was determined to be 23.33 percent in school and 6.46 percent in the community.

The National Mental Health Survey 2016 also found that teenagers had a 7.3% prevalence of illness, distributed equally across boys and girls. However, it was greater in metropolitan metro areas, and the prevalence of anxiety issues was 3.6%, with depression-related conditions at 0.8%. 

<h2>Why Is India's Youth Struggling?</h2>

A 2025 study published in the International Journal of Indian Psychology notes certain risk factors due to which the Indian youth is struggling with mental health issues:

<ul><li><strong>Family Environment and Parenting Style: </strong>Dysfunctional family dynamics lead to poor mental health outcomes in young people. </li><li><strong>Substance Use and Peer Influence:</strong> Interaction with antisocial peers can lead to substance abuse and further lead to depression.</li><li><strong>Academic Pressure and Performance Anxiety:</strong> An intense pressure to perform in academics, and the parental expectation that leads to risk of depression in youth.</li><li><strong>Socioeconomic Status:</strong> Youth from financially disadvantaged families face higher risks of depression and anxiety due to income struggles and financial stress.</li><li><strong>Violence, Abuse, and Trauma: </strong>Exposure to physical or sexual abuse significantly increases the likelihood of depression and anxiety in young people.</li><li><strong>Gender, Identity, and Relationship Issues: </strong>Struggles with gender, sexuality, or relationships heighten vulnerability to mental health crises, often worsened by stigma and isolation.</li><li><strong>Urban vs. Rural Settings:</strong> Urban youth report more mental health disorders than rural youth, linked to academic pressure, social isolation and weaker family support.</li><li><strong>Pandemic-Related Stress: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic intensified depressive symptoms among students, with women disproportionately affected due to added household burdens and limited social interaction.</li></ul><h2>What Else Was Announced In Budget 2026?</h2>Sitharaman also proposed launching a scheme to support states in setting up five regional medical hubs, which will include AYUSH centers and infrastructure for diagnostics and post-care rehabilitation.

In addition, ten new allied health disciplines will help train one lakh professionals, strengthening the healthcare support system across hospitals, wellness centers and medical tourism facilities.

Furthermore, she noted that no mental health institutions have been set up in North India and to boost care, the government will set up centers in Ranchi, Jharkhand and Tezpur, Assam.

Jain commended the government's initiative to improve mental health care and told Healthandme: "The focus on mental health alongside Ayurveda and wellness in this budget is a powerful affirmation that holistic wellbeing matters. Now is the time to harmonize our ancient Indian sciences with contemporary mental health frameworks to nurture resilient, compassionate communities.

"It feels deeply reassuring to see mental health, Ayurveda and wellness coming together in this budget. Healing has always been holistic and this is our reminder to blend ancient Indian wisdom with modern, trauma-informed mental health practices to support gentler, deeper, more human wellbeing."

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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced the launch of National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences-2 in North India, making it the first in the area and second dedicated institute in the country during Union Budget 2026. "There are no national institutes for mental healthcare in north India,” the finance minister said. This forces patients to travel long distances for specialized treatment, training and research-linked care," Sitharaman said of the launch. The first National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS) is located in Bengaluru and serves as the apex center for mental health education and neuroscience research at present.Initially named as the Bangalore Lunatic Asylum in 1847, the institution underwent changes in 1925 and was renamed Government Mental Hospital. However, in 1974, the institution was established as NIMHANS and was brought under the wing of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.The launch of the new institute reaffirms the Union government’s commitment to mental health and trauma care and aims to address long-standing gaps in access to psychiatric and trauma care.Namrata Jain, Psychotherapist and Relationship Expert, Founder of OutAloud Wellness told Healthandme: "These new hubs will finally bring quality care closer home, supporting the early intervention that stops a struggle from becoming a crisis. "Very importantly, they’ll provide the formal, high-quality training our professionals lack in today’s times and establish research centers that have been missing in India. It’s a major step toward making mental health a national priority and additionally decentralizing, destigmatizing, and decolonizing mental health."India's Ongoing Mental Health CrisisThe Ministry of Health & Family Welfare noted India contributes to 18 percent of the global population, and as per the World Health Organization (WHO), the burden of mental health problems in India is 2,433 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per 10,000 population. The age-adjusted suicide rate is per 21.1 per 1,00,000 population, and the economic loss between 2012-2030 is estimated at USD 1.03 trillion.Another study published in 2024 in Cureus, quotes a previous study from early 2021 by UNICEF and Gallup that reveals that children in India were hesitant seeking help for mental health.READ MORE: Lucknow University Professor's Initiative Of Diary As Mental Well-being Doctor Gets PatentAccording to another 2024 study, the prevalence rate of mental health issues in children and teenagers in India was determined to be 23.33 percent in school and 6.46 percent in the community. The National Mental Health Survey 2016 also found that teenagers had a 7.3% prevalence of illness, distributed equally across boys and girls. However, it was greater in metropolitan metro areas, and the prevalence of anxiety issues was 3.6%, with depression-related conditions at 0.8%. Why Is India's Youth Struggling?A 2025 study published in the International Journal of Indian Psychology notes certain risk factors due to which the Indian youth is struggling with mental health issues:Family Environment and Parenting Style: Dysfunctional family dynamics lead to poor mental health outcomes in young people. Substance Use and Peer Influence: Interaction with antisocial peers can lead to substance abuse and further lead to depression.Academic Pressure and Performance Anxiety: An intense pressure to perform in academics, and the parental expectation that leads to risk of depression in youth.Socioeconomic Status: Youth from financially disadvantaged families face higher risks of depression and anxiety due to income struggles and financial stress.Violence, Abuse, and Trauma: Exposure to physical or sexual abuse significantly increases the likelihood of depression and anxiety in young people.Gender, Identity, and Relationship Issues: Struggles with gender, sexuality, or relationships heighten vulnerability to mental health crises, often worsened by stigma and isolation.Urban vs. Rural Settings: Urban youth report more mental health disorders than rural youth, linked to academic pressure, social isolation and weaker family support.Pandemic-Related Stress: The COVID-19 pandemic intensified depressive symptoms among students, with women disproportionately affected due to added household burdens and limited social interaction.What Else Was Announced In Budget 2026?Sitharaman also proposed launching a scheme to support states in setting up five regional medical hubs, which will include AYUSH centers and infrastructure for diagnostics and post-care rehabilitation.In addition, ten new allied health disciplines will help train one lakh professionals, strengthening the healthcare support system across hospitals, wellness centers and medical tourism facilities.Furthermore, she noted that no mental health institutions have been set up in North India and to boost care, the government will set up centers in Ranchi, Jharkhand and Tezpur, Assam.Jain commended the government's initiative to improve mental health care and told Healthandme: "The focus on mental health alongside Ayurveda and wellness in this budget is a powerful affirmation that holistic wellbeing matters. Now is the time to harmonize our ancient Indian sciences with contemporary mental health frameworks to nurture resilient, compassionate communities."It feels deeply reassuring to see mental health, Ayurveda and wellness coming together in this budget. Healing has always been holistic and this is our reminder to blend ancient Indian wisdom with modern, trauma-informed mental health practices to support gentler, deeper, more human wellbeing."

nimhans-2 set to launch in north india, fm nirmala sitharaman announces

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NIMHANS-2 Set To Launch In North India, FM Nirmala Sitharaman Announces

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