The document outlines 5 thrust areas for improving mental health programs in India: 1) Expanding district mental health programs nationwide; 2) Modernizing mental hospitals to reduce their custodial role; 3) Upgrading psychiatry departments in medical colleges and increasing psychiatric education for doctors; 4) Strengthening central and state mental health authorities with permanent staff; 5) Increasing research and training in community mental health, substance abuse, and child and adolescent clinics.

17. Thrust areas
•1.District mental health programme in an enlarged and more
effective form covering the entire country.
•2.Streamlining/modernization of mental hospitals in order to
modify their present custodial role.
•3.Upgrading department of psychiatry in medical colleges
and enhancing the psychiatric content of the medical
curriculum at the undergraduate as well as postgraduate
level.
•4.Strengthening the central and state mental health
authorities with a permanent secretariat. Appointment of
medical officers at state headquarters in order to make the
monitoring role more effective.
•5.Research and training in the field of community mental
health, substance abuse and child adolescent psychiatric
clinics.