Primary mental health care for older persons in India: how age-inclusive are public policies?

The need to improve the primary mental healthcare system in India has gained increasing public health attention. Concomitantly, efforts to frame and develop appropriate public mental health care through legislation and related strategies and programmes have been undertaken. Because older people in India are particularly prone to mental health problems, this study explores the inclusiveness of Indian public policies in addressing the primary mental health care needs of older people from a cross-policy perspective. The basis of this thematic document analysis is 41 key national strategic documents (1999-2018) from different thematically grouped policy fields. In the context of population ageing, socio-economic challenges for older people and changing family norms, the policies delineate a pronounced interest in old-age-inclusive primary mental health care, whereas international policies are regarded as important reference points. While some of the policies address older persons as a vulnerable group in general, others delineate a more differentiated picture of the older population. Moreover, as new rights with implications for old-age mental health care, including community-based access to mental health care, have emerged, an integrated old-age mental healthcare policy spanning across sectors remains absent. Although old-age-inclusive primary mental health care is an emerging trend in India, its development as a cross-cutting policy issue remains in its infancy. Accordingly, unambiguous integrated policy approaches are needed to address the complex mental healthcare needs of older persons, and further research should be undertaken to focus on mental healthcare strategies and approaches at the primary care level.