Hyderabad: The current ratio of mental health professionals in India remains alarmingly low compared to global standards. With approximately 0.7 mental health professionals for every one lakh people—far short of the recommended three per one lakh — the country faces a critical shortage. Telangana, home to over 3.5 crore people, has around 600 mental health professionals, which is insufficient to meet the growing mental health needs.A report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare from August 2023 highlighted that India has only 2,840 accredited clinical psychologists, with a mere 50 to 60 serving in Telangana.
Dr Charan Teja Koganti, consultant psychiatrist at KIMS Hospital, explained, “This shortage is driven by a general lack of awareness about mental health issues. Many people hesitate to seek psychiatric help for conditions like anxiety and depression. As a result, fewer medical students are inclined to pursue psychiatry as a specialisation.”
India currently has about 27,000 psychiatrists, a number that falls significantly short of the recommended ratio of three per one lakh people. Dr Umashankar, head of psychiatry at the government medical college in Maheswaram, noted, “The Hyderabad Psychiatrist Society once had only about 50 members, but now there are more than 200. Each year, around 75 new medical postgraduates enter the field. However, the real concern lies with the shortage of other mental health professionals.”
This dearth of clinical psychologists is further compounded by limited educational opportunities, with only two institutions in Telangana offering courses in clinical psychology. States like Tamil Nadu and Kerala have more robust programmes. “The ideal ratio of one clinical psychologist per psychiatrist is far from being achieved,” said Shilpa P, general secretary of the Clinical Psychologists Association of Telangana. “There is an urgent need for more medical colleges to introduce clinical psychology programs. Even regular colleges could help fill this gap,” she added.
Doctors also raised concerns about the growing number of counselling psychologists with basic certificate courses, emphasising that they lack the comprehensive training needed to diagnose complex mental health issues. “They may struggle to differentiate between personality disorders and more severe psychiatric conditions. Clinical psychologists, with their in-depth training, work closely with psychiatrists,” they stressed.
“This year’s Mental Health Day theme — stress-free workplaces — highlights the increasing levels of stress in professional environments,” said Dr Subodh Kandamuthan, director of the Dr Kakarla Subba Rao Centre for Health Care Management at ASCI. “There’s a clear need for more mental health professionals, and it’s crucial that the government focuses on addressing this growing concern,” Subodh Kandamuthan added.
Dr Charan Teja Koganti, consultant psychiatrist at KIMS Hospital, explained, “This shortage is driven by a general lack of awareness about mental health issues. Many people hesitate to seek psychiatric help for conditions like anxiety and depression. As a result, fewer medical students are inclined to pursue psychiatry as a specialisation.”
India currently has about 27,000 psychiatrists, a number that falls significantly short of the recommended ratio of three per one lakh people. Dr Umashankar, head of psychiatry at the government medical college in Maheswaram, noted, “The Hyderabad Psychiatrist Society once had only about 50 members, but now there are more than 200. Each year, around 75 new medical postgraduates enter the field. However, the real concern lies with the shortage of other mental health professionals.”
This dearth of clinical psychologists is further compounded by limited educational opportunities, with only two institutions in Telangana offering courses in clinical psychology. States like Tamil Nadu and Kerala have more robust programmes. “The ideal ratio of one clinical psychologist per psychiatrist is far from being achieved,” said Shilpa P, general secretary of the Clinical Psychologists Association of Telangana. “There is an urgent need for more medical colleges to introduce clinical psychology programs. Even regular colleges could help fill this gap,” she added.
Doctors also raised concerns about the growing number of counselling psychologists with basic certificate courses, emphasising that they lack the comprehensive training needed to diagnose complex mental health issues. “They may struggle to differentiate between personality disorders and more severe psychiatric conditions. Clinical psychologists, with their in-depth training, work closely with psychiatrists,” they stressed.
“This year’s Mental Health Day theme — stress-free workplaces — highlights the increasing levels of stress in professional environments,” said Dr Subodh Kandamuthan, director of the Dr Kakarla Subba Rao Centre for Health Care Management at ASCI. “There’s a clear need for more mental health professionals, and it’s crucial that the government focuses on addressing this growing concern,” Subodh Kandamuthan added.
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