New Delhi, Jul 9 (IANS): The Supreme Court Monday issued notice to the central and state governments on a plea by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) seeking a country-wide epidemiological survey to identify the magnitude of mental health problems.

The apex court bench of Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan and Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose issued notice on an application contending that a survey on the magnitude of the problem of mental health was "necessary and desirable (so) that a perspective plan covering the task, financial implication, time frame ... is drawn up keeping in view the present as well as the future requirements".

The NHRC’s application said "at present no clear picture of the magnitude of the problem of the mental health in the country is available".

"In the absence of clear data base, proper policy interventions and allocation of resources is not receiving due priority," the NHRC application said.

The apex human rights body said that in the absence of adequate allocation of resources, the mental health institutions and hospitals were unable to meet their requirement.

Advocating allocation of adequate resources, the human rights body said that the central and state governments should "accord priority in allocation of financial resources both for the regular maintenance and upgradation of the physical infrastructure of these institutions".