*January 23, 2011* *BANGALORE*: There might be help at hand if you're physically ill, but getting medical support for your mind may not be that easy. There are just 23% of the required psychiatrists and 25% of psychiatric nurses in the country. The figures are worse for clinical psychologists and psychiatrists __ just two to three per cent of the total need.
To tackle this, the Union health ministry has decided to develop 11 institutions as centres of excellence in mental health on the lines of Nimhans. These institutions will add 44 psychiatrists, 176 clinical psychologists, 176 psychiatric social workers and 220 psychiatric nurses annually, Union health and family welfare minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said on Thursday. Speaking at the 15th annual convocation of National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (Nimhans), the minister said the ministry will provide support to states to begin PG courses in mental health institutions. "It is very important to bridge the gap between increasing requirement and availability of mental health professionals. We are also initiating the process to amend the National Mental Health Act of 1987, so that rights of those with mental illnesses are not overlooked," he added. *RETIREMENT AGE GOES UP* Faced with severe shortage of faculty in medical colleges, the Centre has decided to increase their retirement age from 65 years to 70 from academic year 2011-12. Nearly 4,000 seats will be added in medical colleges across the country. With this, the department expects to add 10,000 more PG seats in the next two years. *NIMHANS TO HAVE 4 BRANCHES* Nimhans is likely to have four branches and the budget for it will be allocated in the 12th Five Year Plan, Azad said. The branches are likely to be in east, central east, north and western parts of India to cater to mental healthcare needs in these areas. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/7330130.cms -- 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
