Awareness rallies and programmes on mental health marked the World Health Day celebrations here on Thursday.
Students of nursing colleges, volunteers from schools, and representatives of NGOs took part in a public rally which began at Gandhi Museum.
M.S. Chellamuthu Trust and Research Foundation, an NGO for mentally disabled, launched the services of a publicity van to create awareness among the public.
The van carrying counsellors and medical staff would go around the city to offer free counselling for mental illness.
Speaking at the sensitisation programme for the staff of the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), G.K. Arun Sundar Thayalan, Additional Collector, Madurai, said, “At least two persons need to be assigned to each village to keep track of the people with mental disabilities.”
“Such recreational activities are meant to keep the mentally challenged people active and improve their mental health,” said Pal Raj, Co-ordinator, Bethshan Special School.
