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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