MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMME

Introduction-

The World Health Organization defines Mental Health as an integral part of health; indeed, there is no health without mental health and determined by a range of socio-economic, biological, and environmental factors and not just the mere absence of Mental Disorder.

Mental disorder is characterized by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior. It is usually associated with distress or impairment in important areas of functioning. There are many different types of mental disorders.

Mental disorders may also be referred to as mental health conditions. The latter is a broader term covering mental disorders, psychosocial disabilities, and (other) mental states associated with significant distress, impairment in functioning, or risk of self-harm. Due to changing environments, competitive life, outbreaks of epidemics, uncertainty of survival, etc., stress, depression, anxiety, and tension increase in society, leading to the development of mental disorders in many.

Implementation of Mental Health Programme –

• Regional Mental Hospitals (RMH)
• National Mental Health Programme
• District Mental Health Programme
• Telemanas Programme

Regional Mental Hospitals (RMH)

S.No. | Hospital Name | Sanctioned Beds | Attached Districts

Regional Mental Hospitals in Maharashtra

Hospital Name	Sanctioned Beds	Attached Districts
Regional Mental Hospital, Pune	2540	Pune, Solapur, Satara, Ahmednagar, Chh. Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Beed, Dharashiv, Latur, Nanded, Hingoli, Parbhani
Regional Mental Hospital, Thane	1850	Thane, Raigad, Palghar, Nashik, Dhule, Jalgaon, Nandurbar, Mumbai & Mumbai Suburban
Regional Mental Hospital, Nagpur	940	Nagpur, Wardha, Akola, Amravati, Yavatmal, Washim, Buldhana, Bhandara, Gondia, Gadchiroli, Chandrapur
Regional Mental Hospital, Ratnagiri	365	Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Sangali, Kolhapur
Geriatric Health & Mental Illness Centre, Ambajogai, Beed	100	Beed

Total Beds: 5795 in 36 districts

Services Provided-

• OPD
• IPD
• Treatment for various diseases
• Counseling
• De-addiction Services
• Vocational Training
• Yoga

District Mental Health Programme

District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) was started under the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) to decentralize mental health services and provide mental health services at the community level by integrating mental health with the general healthcare delivery system.

The DMHP Programme in Maharashtra started in 1997-98 in Raigad district. At present, it is functioning in all 36 districts.

Services Provided through DMHP

• OPD
• IPD
• Treatment
• Counseling
• Day Care Centre
• Mega Camp & Taluka Camp
• Memory Clinic
• Targeted Intervention

Tele MANAS (Tele Mental Health Assistance & Networking Across States)

The National Tele Mental Health Programme of India, Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking across States (Tele MANAS), envisions working as a comprehensive, integrated, and inclusive 24X7 tele-mental health facility in each State and UT in India.

In Maharashtra, since 10th October 2022, 24*7 Telemanas services started with Toll-free No. 14416.

Services are provided through Three Telemanas cells (Regional Mental Hospital Thane, Pune, Geriatric Health & Mental Illness Center Ambajogai) and 1 Mentoring unit (AIIMS Nagpur), covering 36 districts of Maharashtra.

Mental Health Care Act 2017

The Mental Health Care Act 2017, India, was passed on 7 April 2017 and came into force from July 7, 2018. This act rescinds/revoked the existing Mental Healthcare Act 1987. The highlight of the Act is to protect the rights of a person with mental illness, and thereby facilitating his/her access to treatment and by an advance directive; how he/she wants to be treated for his/her illness.

Maharashtra has formed State Mental Authority as well as eight Mental Health Review Boards (MHRB) under the mandate of the Mental Healthcare Act (2017), covering 36 districts of Maharashtra.

Memory Clinic

Special outpatient departments for senior citizens affected by dementia under Memory Clinic have been started in 34 districts.

Special training has been given to the staff working under the District Mental Health Program. Free medicines are also provided for dementia patients.

Manshakti Clinic

In the State, mental health services are being provided through Manshakti clinic under the District Mental Health Programme at Primary Health Centers.

Emanas Software

E-Manas software is an IT-based solution for mental health care management. The Department of Public Health, Government of Maharashtra has signed an MoU with the Government of Karnataka, IIIT Bangalore, and NIMHANS Bangalore.

Currently, the final testing (Beta Testing) of the software is going on through IIIT Bangalore.

Features of Emanas Software (Modules) –

• Registration of Mental Health Establishment
• Registration of Mental Health Professionals
• Registering Grievances
• Clinical Module

Prakalp Prerna (Farmer Counseling Health Service Program)

The Government of Maharashtra had decided to implement the special assistance program to prevent the suicides of farmers from October 2015 in 14 suicide-prone districts of the state.

Prerna Prakalp – Farmer Counseling Health Service Program is being implemented in 14 districts, including 8 districts of Marathwada Division (Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Beed, Jalna, Hingoli, Latur, Nanded, Dharashiv, Parbhani Districts) and 6 districts of Vidarbha Division (Akola, Amravati, Buldhana, Washim, Yavatmal, Wadha).

Under this program, ASHAs workers conduct surveys in villages to identify depressed people and refer them to higher facilities for further treatment.

Beneficiary:

Individuals suffering from mental health disorders.

Benefits:

Access to outpatient and inpatient care (OPD & IPD).