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Government Of Assam Health & Family Welfare Directorate of Health Service

National Mental Health Programme

  • Director Health Services

    We were instructed in meeting convened in the office chamber of the Secretary Health and Family Welfare on 30-9-2015 and were instructed to furnish a brief report on the status of National Mental Health Program implemented in the state of Assam. We are furnishing herewith a report for your scrutiny and necessary inputs.

    NEED of the Program:

    It was identified that approximately 6 percent of general population suffer from neuropsychological problem requiring medical care. An analysis has indicated that the incidence will increase to 15 percent by 2020.This population is scattered all over the state and the health care services must reach to the grassroots to cover this population.

    Objectives of NMHP:

    • To ensure the availability and accessibility mental health care services to all.
    • To ensure the mental health knowledge in general health care and in social development.
    • To promote community participation in mental health care.
    • To provide sustainable basic mental services to the community and to integrate these services with other health services.
    • Early detection and treatment of patients.
    • To see that those patients and their relatives do not have to travel long distances to access health care services for mentally ill patients.
    • To take pressure off the larger or central mental hospitals.
    • To reduce the stigma and discrimination attached towards mental ill persons.
    • Rehabilitative services for such category of persons.
     

    Current Status NMHP

    A. District Mental Health Program (DMHP):

    Eight districts are already covered in the state of Assam namely Nogaon, Goalpara, , Tinsukia, Darang , Nalbari , Morigaon, Karbi Along, Karimgang, All the centers are located in the district civil hospital. Human Resource (Staff categories per centre)- Psychiatrist (1), Clinical Psychologist (3)Psychiatrist-Social Worker(i),Nurse (DPN qualification or trained on mental health) (4), Case registrar. All staff has been recruited and are in place. Outdoor registration and examination patients have been started . Indoor ward has been constructed /renovated with a capacity for thirty, patients. Training program for general physicians for detection and treatment of some minor mental programs has been initiated in these civil hospitals.

    Anti psychiatric medicines are supplied to these hospitals.

    B. Medical Colleges:

    The colleges included are Gauhati Medical College, Assam Medical College, Silchar Medical College

    The psychiatry ward has been renovated and the capacity indoor patients have been increased. Post graduate courses on Psychiatry are going on.

    C. LGB Regional Institute of Mental Health:

    The institute is renovated and Post graduate courses have been started. There is a both indoor and outdoor facility. The institute will be conducting ‘Mental Health Survey” in Assam. The training for the same has already been completed.

    Center of Execellance:

    Both LGB Regional institute of Mental Health and Medical Colleges are identified as Centre of Excellence. Both these centre receive a special grant for infrastructure development and conducting PG and diploma courses. They will be a Resource Centre for the academicians, research scholars.

    Tentative Action Plan 2015-2016

    LevelActivitiesTarget 2015-2016
    Community
    Level
    Community awareness campaign for supporting
    and eradicating stigma.
    30 such campaigns will be conducted during the FY.

    Sensitization of opinion leaders/ religious leaders
    on mental health and community responsibilities.

    675 such leaders will be sensitized. Each district will sensitize 25 such leaders.
    Net working with NGOs.Each district will organize two meetings with  the NGOs at grassroots level.
    NGOs working on mental Health will be covered.
    Training of AnganwadisAll anganwadis of the district will be trained for early detection of mental illness..
    Development of IEC materialsSuitable IEC materials will be developed in local language both in state and district level.
    Strengthening of community based rehabilitative system.(i). Regular counseling with all the family members of mentally ill patients attending the hospital.
    (ii). All Panchyats of the district will be sensitized on mental health.
    District
    Level
    To bring all districts of Assam under the programTo extend coverage from the existing 8 districts to 27 districts.
    Training of medical officers and general physicians.To train 300 Medical officers/general physicians.
    Training of MPWs.1000 MPWs will be trained.
    School coverage for detection of cases with mental illness.108 schools will be covered.
    Data collectionEach district will have a data bank.
    Function as a referral point from peripheral health institutes. 
    Medical
    Colleges
    Training of doctors, 
    Training of nurses/Para medicals. 
    Resource centre./Centre of Excellence 
    OPD /IPD facilities. 
    Research and publication.Each medical Institution will do one operational research in the year and make a training need assessment.
    LGBRIMHTrainingTraining of all categories of personnel.
    Training of NGOs.
    Resource centre./Centre of Excellence 
     Research and publications. 
    Data Bank 
    Operational Research 

    Innovation:

    • “Sensitization of Police and Medical Officers on “Mental Health Act” regarding rescue and treatment of homeless or guardian-less mentally ill persons.
    • IEC materials in local language for pregnant women attending antenatal clinic regarding early detection and available help for mentally deficit children.
    • School teachers will be educated on child psychology and mental health problems related to children.
     

    Strength of state program: All existing centers has been upgraded and requisite staff has been recruited.

    Weakness: Lack of training. Long delay in fund disbursal for conducting the program, Lack of knowledge on legal provisions of Mental Health Act.

    Opportunity: The various departments and other stakeholders are available in the state for successful implementation of the program as a joint venture.

    Threat: Apart from natural calamities, paucity of fund may be big threat to the program.