Budget 2023 Expectations: Affordable therapy and mental health insurance need of the hour, says experts

While presenting the Union Budget 2022, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman acknowledged the increase in mental-health problems in people across age groups in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. To address the concerns, the Union minister announced 23 tele-mental health centres to be launched with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) as the nodal centre. The boost to the mental-health sector in last year’s Budget was welcomed by mental-health experts. In 2023, when most of the country’s workforce is back in office, experts feel it is still important to keep a tab on our mental well-being, especially with the threat of another COVID wave looming over us.