NIMHANS, Karnataka Government Scale Up Project USHAS to 37 Hospitals

Bengaluru, September 10, 2026: NIMHANS, the Government of Karnataka and Himalaya Wellness Company have announced the statewide expansion of Project USHAS (Urban Self-Harm Study) to 37 government hospitals across Karnataka.

The programme, which currently operates in 16 hospitals across 10 districts, will expand to all 31 district hospitals and six government hospitals in Bengaluru for one year. The initiative aims to establish a structured post-attempt care pathway for people who survive suicide attempts or self-harm incidents, including psychosocial assessment, counselling, family support and follow-up.

U. T. Khader Fareed, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka, said, “I congratulate NIMHANS, Department of Health, and Himalaya Wellness Company on this important initiative. Expanding USHAS across 37 government hospitals will help strengthen access to timely psychosocial support for people who survive self-harm or suicide attempts, and ensure that care continues beyond the hospital.”

According to the release, India recorded 1,70,746 suicide deaths in 2024, based on National Crime Records Bureau data, with Karnataka among the states reporting the highest numbers. It said government emergency departments are often the first point of contact for people who survive a suicide attempt, while psychosocial assessment, counselling, safety planning and continued support may not always be available after physical injuries are treated.

Since 2022, USHAS has registered 35,436 cases of self-harm and attempted suicide. Of these, 26,385 survivors received counselling, risk assessment and structured follow-up, while 31,002 families were brought into parallel support. Among those who received intervention, the programme reported a 1.3% reattempt rate and 0.3% suicide mortality.

K G Umesh, Director–Human Resources, Himalaya Wellness Company, said, “Wellness cannot stop at the hospital door. For a survivor of self-harm, discharge can mark the beginning of a very difficult period, often shaped by fear, stigma, and isolation. USHAS helps bridge that care gap by connecting medical treatment with counselling, family support, and regular follow-up. Himalaya’s role is to support NIMHANS in building scalable psychosocial support infrastructure through trained professionals, clear care protocols, and systems that remain connected with survivors over time. If Karnataka can demonstrate this model across 37 hospitals, it can offer a practical pathway for other states to strengthen post-attempt care.”

“A one-time counselling session helps at the moment, but what actually prevents a second attempt is a trained professional who stays with that patient's case for months, not hours,” said Dr. Y C Janardan Reddy, Director, NIMHANS. “Scaling USHAS to 37 hospitals means building that capacity across the entire state, and that is what makes this a model other states can realistically follow, not just Karnataka's own success story.”

Under the expanded programme, trained psychiatric social workers and clinical psychologists will provide hospital-based interventions, engage family members, support safety planning and conduct follow-up for 12 months. The intervention will include a 45–75-minute psychosocial session, scheduled follow-up calls and a dedicated helpline.

The programme will also collect hospital-level data and implementation insights. Findings from the first year will be analysed to inform the next phase and assess the potential for replication beyond Karnataka.