India is set to conduct the second edition of the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS-2) during 2025–26, marking a significant expansion in scope and coverage. The survey is being led by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore under the mandate of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Unlike the first survey conducted in 2015–16, which covered only 12 states, NMHS-2 will include all states and Union Territories across the country, aiming to generate comprehensive and nationally representative mental health data.
NMHS-2 is designed by NIMHANS to assess the burden, patterns, and characteristics of mental health conditions across different population groups.
The survey will include adults aged 18 years and above, adolescents between 13 and 17 years, and children aged 7 to 12 years, with parental inputs used for younger participants.
Key objectives include estimating the prevalence of priority mental health disorders at both state and national levels, as well as examining disability, socio-economic impact, and the burden on families and caregivers. The survey will also analyse care pathways, treatment-seeking behaviour, and service utilisation patterns.
Additionally, NMHS-2 will focus on vulnerable and special populations, including the elderly, women, children, tribal communities, and sexual minorities. It will also evaluate the interaction between mental health and co-morbid physical illnesses, along with emerging concerns such as the impact of climate change.
A key component of NMHS-2 is the assessment of India’s mental health system, including infrastructure, workforce, and service delivery capacity. Resource mapping will be conducted to identify gaps and inform future policy planning.
According to Dr. Pratima Murthy, director, NIMHANS, the survey will also involve Centres of Excellence and academic institutions, enabling them to contribute to research, implementation, and capacity building in mental healthcare.
The survey will adopt a multi-stage, stratified, random cluster sampling method with population proportionate to size to ensure robust representation. All 36 states and Union Territories will be included, with five districts selected per state based on socio-economic indicators such as the Multidimensional Poverty Index.
Sampling will account for both rural and urban populations, with further stratification of urban areas into million-plus and non-million-plus cities. Special efforts will be made to include tribal populations through proportional sampling in designated districts.
Household-level data collection will be carried out through structured cluster-based approaches in both rural and urban settings.
Speaking to The New Indian Express, Dr. Girish Rao, Prof of Epidemiology, Centre for Public Health, NIMHANS, highlighted the importance of NMHS-2 in addressing existing gaps in mental health data and services. He noted that comprehensive nationwide data is essential to guide targeted interventions and improve accessibility to mental healthcare.
The first National Mental Health Survey (2015–16) provided critical insights into the prevalence of mental health conditions and healthcare-seeking behaviour across 12 states. NMHS-2 aims to build on this foundation by expanding coverage and incorporating additional dimensions such as system assessment and longitudinal research components.
The findings from NMHS-2 are expected to play a key role in shaping national mental health policies and strengthening service delivery frameworks in India.
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