The Emergency Care and Recovery Centre for mentally ill and homeless people constructed inside Government Medical College, Tiruvannamalai was inaugurated by District Collector K.S. Kandasamy on Tuesday.
This is one of the five such centres to be established by the National Health Mission, Tamil Nadu. The other centres would come up in Vellore, Tiruppur, Theni and Villupuram.
This is in line with the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, which states that persons with mental illness living below the poverty line who are homeless are entitled to treatment and services free of cost at establishments run or funded by the government. The centre has 50 beds with a team, including a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker and nurses to provide medical and social care.
Mr. Kandasamy handed over a box containing essential items to the people who are being rehabilitated in the psychiatric ward of the Government Medical College, Tiruvannamalai. He said that this centre would serve those with mental illnesses wandering the streets. People who find such people can call or WhatsApp the details to 6384549613 and rest would be taken care of by the staff at the GMC, he added.
According to sources, the centre will focus on providing access to basic amenities and livelihood options as well as family and social life. These centres will also provide vocational training and equip patients with skills such as baking, cooking and tailoring to ensure their productivity.
