*By Express News Service 04 Oct 2010* * * *HYDERABAD:* The Institute of Mental Health in the city is up for a major upgradation having been selected one among the eleven such institutes across the country to be developed as Centre of Excellence under the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP).
As part of it, professionals in mental health will be produced by introducing courses in clinical psychology (four seats), psychiatry social worker (eight seats) and psychiatry nurses (16 seats). Detailed plan has been chalked out for construction of a three-floor academic block with adequate teaching facilities and accommodation facility for faculty and students within the campus and Rs 5.28 crore has also been released for the purpose. The institute has sought permission from the medical authorities for launching the courses. Under the NMHP, the institute needs to generate mental health professionals within four years. It has also been decided that the strength of existing course in psychiatry should be increased from six to eight seats. The strength of faculty in the institute will also be doubled from the existing number of 15. “The mental healthcare system in the state is reeling under severe shortage of professionals. The upgradation is aimed at generating trained professionals for delivering better mental healthcare services. The three new courses being introduced are related to untouched areas in psychiatry treatment and are aimed at bringing a remarkable change in handling of patients,” said Dr Pramod Kumar, superintendent of the Institute of Mental Health in Hyderabad. The institute has also been selected as the nodal institute for Nalgonda district under the District Mental Health Programme. The three components to be covered under the district programme are psychology services, training of manpower and paramedical staff and imparting mental health education at the district level with an aim to percolate to the taluka-level. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/MhaNewsViewsIndia?hl=en ------------- Affiliated Groups : MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INDIA [email protected] Discussions on mental health law / policy / plan monitoring / human rights etc [email protected] India-specific news and views related to mental health [email protected] Information and support to carers of people with mental health issues [email protected] Mutual support and sharing of experiential knowledge, skills and social learning amongst peers
