Punarbhava-National Interactive Portal on Disability

Introduction

Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being of an individual. Mental health thus is an integral part of health care system. The government of Gujarat has taken a number of initiatives to strengthen the health system. Through a network of primary, secondary and tertiary care institutions, the state meets growing healthcare needs of large segment of population. NGOs and private sector also play significant role in provision and financing of health care.

Primary health care system is not yet adequately geared to address mental health problems. Through the National Mental Health Programme and state level initiatives, the DoHFW has initiated a number of steps to strengthen the mental health care system in the state. Inadequate institutional for training and education in Gujarat have rendered various interventions in this sector ineffective. Iner alia there is a need for strategic and focused emphasis on mental health programme to enhance effectiveness of programme interventions. The recent developments in this field also suggest having more strategic and focused approach to address the emerging issues. Some of these provide

The inclusion of mental aspects of health was reflected, for the first time, in the Ninth Five-Year Plan when a separate scheme for ‘Strengthening of Mental Health Services’ was included. The Tenth Five-Year Plan envisages continuation of this emphasis; in particular, it aims to ‘integrate mental health with rural health care and provide special care for mental disorders of all types by scientific surveillance and identification’.

The approach and strategy in the area of mental health, takes into consideration the guidelines contained in the National Health Policy (NHP)–2002. Specifically focusing on mental health, the NHP under Para 2.13.1 states that mental health disorders are actually much more prevalent than is apparent on the surface. While such disorders do not contribute significantly to mortality, they have a serious bearing on the quality of life of the affected persons and their families. Sometimes, based on religious faith, mental disorders are treated as spiritual affliction. This has led to the establishment of informal mental institutions as an adjunct to religious institutions where reliance is placed on faith cure. Acute/chronic mental disorders may require hospitalisation and treatment under trained supervision. Mental health institutions are woefully deficient in physical infrastructure and trained manpower. NHP-2002 will address itself to these deficiencies in the public health sector. ”

The NHP recommends setting up of a network of decentralized mental health services for ameliorating the more common categories of disorders (section 4.13.1.1). The programme outline for such a disease would involve the diagnosis of common disorders, and the prescription of common therapeutic drugs, by general duty medical staff.” In regard to mental health institutions the NHP further envisages for in-door treatment of patients and proposes the upgrading of the physical infrastructure of such institutions at Central Government expenses so as to secure the human rights of this vulnerable segment of society (section 4.13.1.2).