India is facing a mental health crisis. The Budget 2026 announced key actions to improve mental health care across the country. A second National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) will be set up in north India. Premier institutions in Ranchi and Tezpur will get upgrades to improve regional access. Mental health problems are rising quickly, especially among children and teens. India accounts for nearly one-third of the world’s suicides and addiction cases. Suicide is a top cause of death among Indians aged 15-29, according to official data. The World Health Organization says India could lose $1.03 trillion in economic output between 2012 and 2030 due to mental health conditions. Yet, 70% to 92% of people with mental illness do not get proper treatment. India has only 0.75 psychiatrists per 100,000 people, below the WHO recommendation of 3 per 100,000. The government added mental health to the Ayushman Bharat health scheme, upgrading many local centres to include mental health services. Tele MANAS is a free 24/7 mental health helpline running in 36 states and UTs. Despite an increase in funding from ₹683 crore in 2020-21 to ₹1,898 crore in 2024-25, mental health gets less than 2% of the total health budget. Experts say this is very low. Neha Kirpal of the India Mental Health Alliance says, "This alone cannot mainstream mental healthcare in a country of India’s scale." The focus remains on specialist hospitals rather than community-based care. Experts warn that even allocated funds are underused. Greater support for early intervention and grassroots programs is needed. The Health Ministry plans a "whole-of-community" approach. It aims to include mental well-being in school lessons and strengthen workplace policies on stress and burnout. Mental health care must become affordable, accessible, and timely to prevent unnecessary suffering and loss of life.