The Hindu : New Delhi News : National Mental Health Programme poised for massive expansion

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Wednesday, Apr 09, 2008
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New Delhi

National Mental Health Programme poised for massive expansion

Aarti Dhar

It focuses on community-based treatment for mentally ill patients

NEW DELHI: The National Mental Health Programme is set for expansion during the XI Five Year Plan period with a proposed outlay of over Rs.1,000 crore. Suicide prevention will be an important part of the programme since such cases have shown an increase lately.

The programme, which focuses on community-based treatment for mentally ill patients, also envisages mental health care right up to the district level and strengthening of the existing psychiatric infrastructure. The proposal for the ambitious programme now awaits Union Cabinet approval.

Mental disorders impose a heavy burden on the family and society in terms of morbidity, loss of productivity and mortality by suicide in extreme cases.

A large number of people with mental problems do not seek help out of ignorance, for fear of stigma or for lack of service. Just one psychiatrist is available for every 3-lakh population. The psychiatrist-population ratio in rural areas is estimated at less than one for every million.

Establishment of Regional Institutes of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, involving voluntary groups, raising awareness about mental diseases and monitoring and evaluation are some other components of the re-energised National Mental Health Programme.

There will be district mental health programmes that will include community mental health services like life-skill training and counselling in educational institutions, workplace stress management and suicide prevention services.

The existing health staff in the districts would be provided short-term training to deliver basic mental health services and all districts would be covered by the end of the XI Plan.

Strengthening of existing psychiatric infrastructure includes upgrading of psychiatric wings of the Government Medical Colleges, General Hospitals and modernisation of existing State-run mental hospitals.

The programme also requires setting up of State and District Cells for implementing the programme, training being an important component.

The State Mental Health Cell will be established with Central assistance to supervise and implement the programme and function as technical support team to assist the state nodal officer.

There is also a plan to have drug distribution centres on the pattern of Directly Observed Therapy Short-course (DOTS) Tuberculosis centres for easy availability of psychotropic drugs and effective monitoring.

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