20-Dec-2012 Thiruvananthapuram: Shortage of clinical psychologists and psychiatrists,and absence of a mental health policy are the main reasons behind the sad state of affairs at government-run mental hospitals in the state,observed an assembly committee headed by Congress MLA V D Satheesan. The panel has asked the government to prepare a master plan for the development of the three hospitals Thiruvanathapuram,Thrissur and Kozhikode --and to allocate funds in the ensuing budget.The committee submitted its report in the assembly on Wednesday. The patient and nursing care ratio is skewed.There should be more doctors and nursing staff in these three hospitals, said Satheesan.The panel has suggested launching of mental health care projects in every district.Special wards with 20-bed capacity should be provided in general and district hospitals.The panel visited all the three hospitals and met over 40 experts from the field.The report says most of the patients getting discharged after treatment are coming back to the same hospital within a few days.Hence there is an urgent need for counselling the relatives of the patients. MIND THE RULES All the three govt mental hospitals need more clinical psychologists and psychiatrists Allocate more fund to the development of these hospitals Special mental health wards with 20-bed capacity should be set up in general hospitals and district hospitals across the state Times Of India Assembly Panel moots mental health policy 20-Dec-2012 TIRUVANANTHAPURAM : An Assembly Estimates Committee which studied problems in the mental health sector of the state has recommended a number of urgent correctional measures and underlined the need for a comprehensive Mental Health Policy for the state. The committee headed by V D Satheesan calls for urgent induction of doctors and other staff, a detailed master plan for infrastructure development, training of staff and proper rehabilitation of treated patients among other things. The committee visited the mental health centres in Thiruvananthapuram (Peroorkada), Thrissur and Kozhikode to study the problems in this sector including timely revision of treatment methodology, policies and laws. The patient-doctor ratio was inadequate even going by the existing staff pattern recommended in the Mental Health Act, 1987. “There is a shortage of psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, social workers and employees. The numbers have to be increased urgently. Another problem is infrastructure. The situation is such that more than one patient are being accommodated in cells which are meant for solitary confinement,’’ Satheesan said. ‘’We came upon run-down buildings and toilet facilities and jail-like solitary confinement cells. The buildings have to be constructed after consulting architects who have specialised knowledge in the building of modern mental health centres,’’ he said. Another grave problem concerns the sheer number of patients. Even patients who have undergone treatment continue to stay on as relatives rarely claim them. A large number of patients, from other states included, are simply abandoned in these hospitals, the committee found. The problem is aggravated by the absence of rehabilitation centres and the fact that the hospitals are pitiably understaffed. “This is a serious social issue. In one centre, we met a mother who was abandoned by her children. But she was still getting her pension. So they would come once a month to take her away to collect her pension and then return her to the hospital!’’ Satheesan said. The committee’s suggestion is that rehabilitation centres should be established nearby the hospitals providing training in skilled and unskilled work. http://newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/article1386796.ece
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