Tamil Nadu scores a ton in District Mental Health protocol

The programme will soon take off in the districts like Coimbatore, the Nilgiris, Vellore, Krishnagiri, Salem, Ariyalur and Thanjavur, thereby bringing all 32 districts under the healthcare umbrella. A sum of Rs 48,12,000 will be allotted for each district per year, says C Ramasubramanian, state nodal officer, Mental Health Programme, Tamil Nadu. “While there are other bigger states in the country implementing the national programme, the reach has not been the same,” he said. The programme has been a success in the districts of Madurai, Ramanathapuram and Tiruchy. “This means the state will take over the programme and will continue implementing it,” said Ramasubramanian.

The uniqueness of the programme in Tamil Nadu, he says, lies in its the all-round approach. “Apart from spreading awareness among the community by sensitising opinion leaders at the village- level and conducting awareness camps, we are also spreading the message through street plays and dance programmes. Additionally, doctors at primary health centres are educated about the issues so that patients can be referred on time for treatment,” he added. 

The taluk hospitals and the district headquarters hospitals too are now equipped to identify and ascertain mental health issues. “In case of further treatment, government medical colleges in the state have separate psychiatric wards to attend to the patients,” he says. 

Mobile psychiatry services with psychologists, psychiatry and social workers have also been promoted as part of the programme across the districts now. Psychiatric medicines, prescribed for those who need the same, are also made available across PHCs. 

Dr Ramasubramanian who is in the forefront of psychiatric services, says around 3 per cent of the population in India is said to suffer from serious mental illness. However, the low number of psychiatrists, psychologists and support staff for urgent work at the grassroots level. “The cost of treatment and the stigma make it worse for families confronting mental health problems,” he adds.The essence of the programme is to drive the message that mental illness is curable.