To address the burden of mental disorders, the Centre is implementing the National Mental Health Programme since 1982, under which, it is supporting implementation of the District Mental Health Programme in 517 districts of the country for detection, management and treatment of mental disorders or illness.
At the district level, funds are provided to each district under the DMHP for sensitisation training of community health workers and elected representatives of community at district hospital, community health centre for awareness generation regarding early signs and community health seeking behavior for mental illness, official sources here said.
Further, the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 provides that the appropriate government shall take all measures to ensure that the Government officials, including police officers and other officers of the government are given periodic sensitisation and awareness training.
Health being a state subject, it is the responsibility of the respective state government to establish health facilities and hospitals in the state, they added.
However, as per available information there are 40 state run mental health Institutions in the country. Besides, three Central Mental Health Institutions like National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur and Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi have been strengthened for augmenting the human resources in the areas of mental health and to provide quality mental health services in the country.
Till date, financial support has been provided for establishment of 25 centres of excellence and strengthening, establishment of 47 Post Graduate departments in mental health specialties in the country.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare regularly reviews and monitors the functioning of the three Central Mental Health Institutions and the Institutions supported under manpower development schemes of NMHP.(UNI)
