Bridging the mental health treatment gap in India: A Policy-oriented framework using the care cascade approach

India carries one of the world's highest mental health treatment gaps. Despite the Mental Healthcare Act 2017 and national programme expansions, large proportions of people with common and severe mental disorders remain undiagnosed or untreated. The care cascade framework, originally applied in HIV and tuberculosis, provides a structured approach to identify points of attrition across seven stages: awareness, help-seeking, access, diagnosis, initiation of treatment, continuity of care, and recovery. Evidence from programme evaluations highlights major drop-offs at recognition, initiation, and long-term adherence. Task-sharing with non-specialist providers, digital platforms such as Tele-MANAS, strengthened District Mental Health Programme services, and integration through Health and Wellness Centres have improved reach but remain fragmented and uneven. Cascade-based indicators allow health systems to monitor performance at each stage and to prioritise interventions where the loss is greatest. Embedding this framework within national policy can enable more efficient resource allocation, reduce inequities, and promote recovery-oriented mental health services in India.