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Like elsewhere, the variety and extent of the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for mental health are yet to be fully understood in India. Since its launch in 1982, the National Mental Health Programme  has undergone many strategic revisions, with the national mental health policy guiding its most recent revision. However, because of the spotlight on mental health issues arising amid COVID-19, some noteworthy guidelines for prevention activities have been released by the MoHFW to address mental health in India, under the guidance of the National Taskforce for the finalisation, implementation, and monitoring of the psychosocial action plan for COVID-19 response. Guidelines were released targeting the general population, people living with mental disorders, and health-care providers to facilitate management of mental health issues during the pandemic. Although it will take time to assess the effects of these guidelines on mental health in India, these steps taken by the government and other stakeholders to reduce the risk of adverse mental health outcomes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are certainly in the right direction for mental health in India. This paper suggests that the MoHFW could build on the momentum and scope of these mental health-related activities. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided a unique opportunity for the National Mental Health Programme to broaden the national mental health agenda from a focus on reducing treatment gap to improving mental health for the entire population.  This is a useful study for policymakers. Click here to read the study.