‘Mental health units to come up in 28 districts’

28-Jul-2014

UDUPI : K.A. Ashok Pai, chairman of Karnataka State Mental Health Task Force, said on Saturday that district mental health units will be started in the remaining 28 districts of the State.

Addressing presspersons here, Dr. Pai said that each would be set up at a cost of Rs. 2 crore each and they were expected to be set up by 2016.

These units were currently functioning in 12 districts of the state.

He said that sex education should be made compulsory in high schools and Pre-University colleges and its curriculum had already been designed. Teachers of biology, sociology, psychology, would be trained as special lecturers for teaching sex education.

Dr. Pai said that though exact statistics were not available, independent surveys had indicated that two per cent of the population suffered from psychosis (schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, paranoia, etc) and six per cent from neurosis (anxiety, phobia, hysteria, obsessive compulsive disorder, somatoform disorders).

Four per cent of the population suffered from personality disorders (drug abuse, deviant sexual behaviour, psychopathic and sociopathic tendencies) and two per cent of the population suffered from behaviour disorders secondary to organic brain damage (mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism and multiple disability).

Hence 14 per cent of the population needed mental health services in the country.

Karnataka, with a population of 6 crore, had nearly 75 lakh persons needing routine mental health service.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) had identified two important diagnostic criteria among the first ten killer diseases. Universal guidelines for mental health services required the need of one mental health professional for each 1,00,000 population

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/mental-health-units-to-come-up-in-28-districts/article6256114.ece

 

Local faith healers sensitized on right way to cure mental disorders

27-APR-2014

MADURAI : Many still trust in faith healers for curing diseases and pay a heavy price for it in the form of worsening health issues and harmful medication. Most people relying on such quacks are from the economically weaker strata of the society. Psychiatrists have sensitized nearly 300 faith healers in Madurai and Ramanathapuram districts thorough an initiative of the state mental health programme.

Insane people from rural areas are usually brought to village priests. They now refer such patients to nearby clinics. This helps many psychiatric cases to get medical attention at the earliest and put them on the road to recovery. The district mental health programme was launched to involve the community in treatment of mental illnesses. At present, it is being implemented in 16 districts in the state.

Dr C Ramasubramanian, state nodal officer for the mental health programme, said religion plays an important role in our country, more so in the mental health aspect. People believe that psychiatric illnesses and disorders were due to black magic which could be cured only by divine intervention. Treatment of psychiatric patients usually leads to human rights violations as patients are subjected to torture like chaining, beating and isolation. As soon as problems are identified religious remedies rather than conventional treatments are sought by people.

Dr Ramasubramanian said 3% of the population in India was suffering from serious mental illnesses which required immediate attention. If minor disorders are taken into account the figure may be higher. Quacks are still relevant as their treatment comes cheap. Besides, there is shortage of psychiatrists, he noted, while admitting that scientific studies and experience showed that unqualified medical practitioners dealt with minor problems effectively as they are aware of the culture and sentiments of the individual.

Convincing local priests under the programme was not an easy task as they initially felt that they would be deprived of their livelihood. With much persuasion they attended a sensitization programme at a rehabilitation home run by the M S Chellamuthu Trust and Research Foundation in Madurai. They were shown that people with mental problem could be cured and helped to lead a normal life.

“They were made to interact with patients and overcome their misconceptions. After that faith healers refer patients to mental health clinics in district hospitals, paving way for their speedier recovery,” Dr Ramasubramanian said.

The opening of the Dawa and Dua, spirituality-linked mental health centre at Erwadi Dargah, is a step in the right direction. It has changed the way patients are treated at the Dargah which is a popular place for cure of mental illnesses, he added.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/Local-faith-healers-sensitized-on-right-way-to-cure-mental-disorders/articleshow/34263804.cms

‘MCI mulling psychiatry paper in MBBS exam’

6-May-2013

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Medical Council of India (MCI) now plans to include a question paper on psychiatry for all MBBS students, said vice-chancellor of NTR University of Health Sciences I V Rao at the annual conference of the Indian Association of Private Psychiatrists, (Andhra Pradesh chapter) held in the city for the first time.

“At present only lectures are delivered on the subject in the MBBS curriculum. So the MCI plans to introduce the subject in the MBBS exam with mandatory minimum marks for passing because it’s an important discipline and significant in the present scenario,” he said.

Director of medical education (DME) Vishnu Prasad called upon private medical colleges to improve the bed strength in the department of psychiatry in their hospitals. “In the government set-up, there are only two hospitals in the entire state (the Government Institute of Mental Health, Hyderabad, and the Government Hospital for Mental Care, Visakhapatnam) that cater to mentally ill in-patients. With psychiatric ailments increasing and almost one fourth of medical conditions found to be linked to psychiatric complications, we need more beds in the private hospitals to house such patients,” he said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/MCI-mulling-psychiatry-paper-in-MBBS-exam/articleshow/19904440.cms?

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311 key posts in mental hospitals not filled

4-Mar-2013

Umesh Isalkar

PUNE: Several posts of mental health professionals are vacant at the four regional mental hospitals in the state, says the latest report of the state health department.

The shortage of psychiatric nurses, clinical psychologists and other skilled staff is hampering patient care. This at a time when a significant proportion of state’s population has recognisable mental disorders in the form of depression, anxiety, somatoform disorders, adjustment disorders, personality disorders, alcohol and drug abuse.

“Total 311 posts, including key positions of psychiatrist, psychiatric nurses, clinical psychologists, medical officers, attendants etc have been vacant for over a year now,” said a state health official. A recent report of the state health department says there are total 2,195 sanctioned posts for all the four state-run regional hospitals. Of them, only 1,884 posts are occupied.

“It’s not just the skilled manpower that is in demand. Even the key post of a superintendent has been vacant at the regional mental hospitals at Pune and Ratnagiri,” said a state official.

Vilas Bhailume, acting superintendent at regional mental hospital, Pune, also known as Yerawada mental hospital, confirmed the finding. “The post of the superintendent here has been lying vacant since April last year. Recently, the deputy superintendent’s post also fell vacant. Now, I hold the additional charge of both these posts.” Besides, posts of clinical psychologists, positions of class I psychiatrist, administrative officer, medical record officer, matron, assistant matron are also vacant at the regional mental hospital in Pune.

“Total 12 out of the 32 posts of psychiatric nurses, two of occupational therapists and six of the 120 posts of staff nurses and the two posts of supervisors are vacant,” Bhailume said. Besides, positions of senior and junior clerks, four posts of incharge attendants, cooks, barbers and drivers are also unoccupied.

With so many positions unoccupied, the management at the hospital in Pune has turned out to be quite a task. An official said, “We have to manage. What else one can do? Since our staff nurses have been treating patients with all sorts of mental illness for years, they double up as psychiatric nurses. Similarly, other jobs are taken care of with whatever resources we have. This has burdened the existing staff and hampered their performance in their areas of expertise.”

Rajendra Shirsath, deputy superintendent at regional mental hospital in Ratnagiri, said, “The post of superintendent here has been unoccupied since 2005-06. Currently, I have been given the additional charge. Besides, posts of clinical psychologist and matron have not been filled. We also need a dietician. A nurse is assigned the work of taking care of patients’ diet. We have to manage things and see that overall quality of work is satisfactory, to say the least. But since everyone has two or three additional charges, an individual’s area of expertise definitely suffers.”

The regional mental hospital in Nagpur, which has a bed strength of 940, has 71 posts vacant. “Most of the posts that are not filled pertains to staff nurses and class IV employees,” said Abhay Gajbhiye, superintendent of regional mental hospital, Nagpur.

A state health official said, “Earlier, the director of state public health department had the powers to recruit all the staff needed at regional mental health hospital. Recently, certain powers have been delegated to deputy director. As officials are overburdened even at directorate level, certain issues like recruitment that requires a few permissions from higher level get sidelined.”

State health minister Suresh Shetty said, “We have initiated the process to recruit people. All posts will soon be filled. Besides, the state government has decided to strengthen mental health services across the state. We have already shortlised areas that need more attention.”

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/311-key-posts-in-mental-hospitals-not-filled/articleshow/18785241.cms?

 

 

 

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Mental health task force chief in city

3-March-2013

Mysore: “The government aims to make the State a model with citizens of sound mental health and doctors should co-operate in that direction by providing needed information,” said Dr. K.A. Ashok Pai, Chairman, Karnataka State Mental Health Task Force.

He was addressing a meeting of Heath Officers and heads of NGOs of the district at the DC’s office here yesterday.

“The government proposes to eradicate superstitious beliefs and rituals regarding mental illness, establish psycho-socio rehabilitation centres, alcohol de-addiction centres, suicide prevention squad and a helpline in that context in all districts. Four schools for children suffering from cerebral palsy has been planned in the State and Rs. 15 crore has been allocated for these projects in the budget,” explained Dr. Pai.

Continuing, Dr. Ashok Pai opined that incidents of suicide, teenage pregnancy, alcohol addiction and crime had increased in Bangalore.

He pointed out that mental health facilities were not satisfactory in the State with a few districts without a single psychiatrist.

He added that the formation of the Task Force was deemed essential as the State was deficient in psychiatrists as many of them go abroad after studies.

District Health Officer Dr. S.M. Malegowda, District Surgeon Dr. Vamadev, District Psychiatrist Dr. M. Manjunath and representatives of various institutions and NGOs attended the meeting.

http://www.inmysore.com/mental-health-task-force-chief-in-city

 

 

 

 

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Karnataka moves towards becoming a model in mental health services

Jaideep Shenoy

6-Jan-2013

MANGALORE: Karnataka’s avowed objective to make the state a model mental health county in India is likely to receive budgetary support.

The objective includes setting up of residential schools for profoundly mentally challenged children and psycho-social rehabilitation centres in all district headquarters, alcohol and de-addiction centres and rehabilitation centres for people suffering from cerebral palsy in headquarters of four revenue zones in Karnataka.

Entrusted with realizing this objective is the recently formed Karnataka State Mental Health Task Force headed by eminent psychiatrist Dr KA Ashok Pai from Shimoga.

“It is the aim of this task force to bring mental health to the doorsteps of residents in Karnataka,” Dr Pai told reporters on Saturday.

The first step in this direction will be to set up district units of the task force in all 30 districts of the state and take forward the aims and objectives from there.

Acknowledging that the task force is faced with a daunting task, Dr Pai said as per universal guidelines for mental health services, there is need for one mental health professional for one lakh population.

At present, there are around 250 psychiatrists, 200 clinical psychologists and same name of psychiatric social workers in the state.

Most of the psychiatric social workers have given up their trained discipline and accepted other career options, he noted.

The state government has accepted proposal given by the task force to set up the residential schools for profoundly mentally challenged students at a total expenditure of Rs 8.5 crore, psycho-social rehabilitation centres at a cost of Rs 9 crore, alcohol and drug de-addiction centres, and rehabilitation centres for those suffering from cerebral palsy respectively at an expenditure of Rs 4 crore each.

The government has agreed to allot land for the centres.

Observing that the task force is the first of its kind initiative anywhere in India, Dr Pai said it is working towards providing comprehensive mental health service with a psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, psychiatric social workers and psychiatric nurse in all district hospitals.

There are only about 250-300 in-patient beds collectively in all hospitals excluding NIMHANS and Dharwad mental hospital and these are challenges to surmount, he said.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-01-06/mangalore/36173787_1_mental-health-psychiatric-social-workers-task-force

 

 

 

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Ministry to push for threefold increase in mental health budget

28-Nov-2012

Centre for Public Health inaugurated on NIMHANS campus

BANGALORE : The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare plans to push for a threefold increase in the mental health budget in the 12th Five-Year Plan.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Centre for Public Health, and a symposium titled ‘Public health priorities in mental, neurological and substance use disorders and injuries’, Sujaya Krishnan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said the department had allocated Rs. 623 crore for mental health in the 11th Five-Year Plan and she hoped for at least a threefold increase in the mental health budget in the next one.

Explaining the need for an increased budget, Ms. Krishnan stated that the number of mental health professionals in the country was inadequate. There was a “severe” shortage of mental health professionals including psychiatrists, psychologists and nurses, she said. “There is a huge gap between the number of people required and the number of people available. Data indicates that there is a 66 per cent shortage of human resources in the mental health [sector],” she said.

In this scenario, she said, there was a need for the Medical Education Department and Health Department to work together. “Medical colleges come under the purview of the Medical Education Department that need to look into the existing curriculum and lay emphasis on mental health so that we will have more trained professionals who can treat people with mental disorders.”

Talking about the District Mental Health Programme, which decentralises mental healthcare in the community using various health professionals, she said the Health Ministry would aim to expand it from the current 123 districts across the country to all districts, in a phased manner.

Shekhar Saxena, Director, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, World Health Organization, also emphasised the need to increase the mental health budget. While mental disorders made up 13 per cent of the global diseases, the spending on it was less than 3 per cent, he said.

However, an increase in budget alone was not enough, he said. “One of the things that the State governments need to do is to make mental healthcare services available in primary health centres,” he mentioned. Speaking on the Mental Health Care Bill 2012, which is expected to be tabled in the Parliament soon, Ms. Krishnan said it was a “progressive” Bill.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/karnataka/ministry-to-push-for-threefold-increase-in-mental-health-budget/article4141029.ece

 

 

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