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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Rural health workers will be trained to treat cases -Umesh Isalkar

Rural health workers will be trained to treat cases -Umesh Isalkar

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published Published on Mar 4, 2013   modified Modified on Mar 4, 2013
-The Times of India

PUNE: In view of the increasing need for skilled manpower in the mental heath sector, the state health department has decided to train health workers at the village level and incorporate them in the mental health services.

"At present, about 6,000 people with different mental illnesses can take treatment at four regional mental hospitals in the state. Even if the strength of health workers is increased, it would be insufficient to address the present needs. Considering this, it is necessary to train taluka and rural level health workers and incorporate them in the mental health services," said Archana Patil, director of the state public health department.

In the community worldwide, it is seen that one person in every 100 individuals suffers from severe mental illness, and nearly 10 to 12 per 100 individuals may be suffering from minor mental disorders at any given time. "Considering the population of Maharashtra, there could be approximately 8 to 10 lakh people suffering from mental illness. So, there is a reason to believe that mental disorders can be visualized as "major health problem" in the state," says the latest report of the health department.

Considering the enormous and serious nature of the problem, the Union government had startedthe National Mental Health Programme in August 1982. The main objective of the programme is to make mental health services available, along with the other health services, in remote areas of the country.

"Among other objectives are to delegate various tasks and responsibilities to suitable personnel in the general health services, in appropriate way in case of mental health services, to incorporate mental health services with other general health services and to make mental health service, an integral part of general health services, to associate mental health knowledge and services, in social development schemes in general and to ensure people's participation in delivering and developing mental health care services in the society," said Patil.

Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had earlier said that India has only 23% of the required psychiatrists and 25% of required psychiatric nurses. The minister had said that 20% of all patients seen by primary health care doctors had one or more mental disorders. One in four families is likely to have at least one member with a behavioral or mental disorder, he said.

However, lack of trained manpower to deal with mental health has been India's major shortcoming. There is a shortage of about 8,000 psychiatrists, 17,000 clinical psychologists, 23,000 psychiatric social workers and 9,000 psychiatric nurses. As against 30,000 beds required for the mentally ill, there are only about 200 beds at present.

In view of this critical shortage, the ministry, under the National Mental Health Programme, has allocated Rs 470 crore for manpower development through 11 Institutions of Excellence across the country, which will help produce 1,756 qualified mental health professionals annually.

Key Facts

* About half of mental disorders begin before the age of 14. Around 20% of the world's children and adolescents are estimated to have mental disorders or problems, with similar types of disorders being reported across cultures. Yet, regions of the world with the highest percentage of population under the age of 19 have the poorest level of mental health resources. Most low- and middle-income countries have only one child psychiatrist for every 1 to 4 million people.

* Depression is characterized by sustained sadness and loss of interest along with psychological, behavioural and physical symptoms. It is ranked as the leading cause of disability worldwide.

* On an average, about 8 lakh people commit suicide every year, 86% of them are from low- and middle-income countries. More than half of the people who kill themselves are aged between 15 and 44. The highest suicide rates are found among men in eastern European countries. Mental disorders are one of the most prominent and treatable causes of suicide.

* War and other major disasters have a large impact on the mental health and psychosocial well-being. Rate of mental disorder tends to double after emergencies.

* Mental disorders are among the risk factors for communicable and non-communicable diseases. They can also contribute to unintentional and intentional injury.

* Stigma about mental disorders and discrimination against patients and families prevent people from seeking mental health care. In South Africa, a public survey showed that most people thought mental illnesses were related to either stress or a lack of willpower rather than to medical disorders. Contrary to expectations, levels of stigma were higher in urban areas and among people with higher levels of education.

* Human rights violations of psychiatric patients are routinely reported in most countries. These include physical restraint, seclusion and denial of basic needs and privacy. Few countries have a legal framework that adequately protects the rights of people with mental disorders.

* There is a huge inequity in the distribution of skilled human resources for mental health across the world. Shortages of psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, psychologists and social workers are among the main barriers to providing treatment and care in low- and middle-income countries. Low-income countries have 0.05 psychiatrists and 0.42 nurses per 100 000 people. The rate of psychiatrists in high income countries is 170 times greater and for nurses is 70 times greater.

* In order to increase the availability of mental health services, there are five key barriers that need to be overcome: the absence of mental health from the public health agenda and the implications for funding; the current organization of mental health services; lack of integration within primary care; inadequate human resources for mental health; and lack of public mental health leadership.

* Governments, donors and groups representing mental health workers, patients and their families need to work together to increase mental health services, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

The Times of India, 4 March, 2013, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Rural-health-workers-will-be-trained-to-treat-cases/articleshow/18785242.cms


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