India pilots BRICS mental health network to expand access
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India is leading a new network of mental health centers from BRICS nations, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, to improve care and reduce treatment gaps.
The network will share successful approaches from each country, adapting them to local health systems. China is using manga, or graphic novels, to reduce stigma around mental illness among young people, while Indonesia operates a 24/7 digital helpline for mental health crises.
The initiative will focus on training primary healthcare workers to identify and support people with mental health conditions, particularly in rural areas where specialist services are limited. Experts also plan to collaborate on research into AI-assisted screening, digital interventions, and suicide prevention.
India hopes this exchange of knowledge will help it address its own significant mental health challenges, where an estimated 197.3 million people were affected by mental health disorders in 2017, and 70 to 92% of those people did not receive treatment. The BRICS network aims to build a comprehensive “toolkit” for mental healthcare, combining community outreach, primary care integration, digital technologies, and public education, rather than imposing a single model.
Officials are currently establishing the network’s governance structure and forming committees to guide its work, with NIMHANS in India serving as the coordinating center. The goal is to create a system where people feel comfortable seeking help and can access support without shame.
