Prevalence and pattern of mental illnesses in Uttar Pradesh, India: Findings from the National Mental Health Survey 2015-16.

AIM: To estimate the prevalence and distribution of psychiatric morbidity, and study pattern of help-seeking in a community representative sample from the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India.

METHOD: A multi-stage, stratified, random cluster sampling was used. The survey was conducted on 3508 adults during 2015-16 using M.I.N.I 6.0.0, modified Fagerström Nicotine Dependence Scale for all forms of tobacco, questionnaires for epilepsy and intellectual disability. The WHO Pathway Interview Schedule was used to study pattern of help-seeking behaviour. Focused group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) were also carried out.

RESULT: Current and lifetime prevalence of 'any mental morbidity' (excluding tobacco use disorders) was 6.08% and 7.97%, respectively. The prevalence of substance use disorders, was 16.36%, of which tobacco use disorders alone contributed 16.06%. Neurotic and depressive disorders were the next most common morbidity. Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders had a current prevalence of 0.09%. High-risk for suicide was reported to be 0.93%. Treatment gap varied between 75 and 100% for different disorders. FGDs and KIIs reflected a higher burden of substance use, including prescription drug abuse, substantial prevalence of cultural mental morbidity, deep rooted stigma, low help-seeking behaviour, and issues surrounding homeless mentally ill persons in the community.

CONCLUSION: The survey revealed high mental morbidity and alarming treatment gap. FGDs and KIIs also highlight the burden of morbidity that probably goes un-noticed, due to socio-cultural systems and stigma. Findings from this survey are intended to be the groundwork for the (re)planning of mental healthcare infrastructure in the state.