Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore/Udupi (HB/SHS)

Mangalore/Udupi, Jul 27: "The Karnataka State Mental Health Task Force (KSMHTF) is aiming to make the state a model for mental health in the country by promoting comprehensive mental health policies vociferously. The aim is also to curb increasing rapes and blind beliefs," said Dr K A Ashok Pai, chairman, KSMHTF, addressing the press meet at the DC office on July May 26.

Raising concerns over the escalating mental illness in the district, he said, “As a speedy means of tackling the problem, residential care and rehabilitation centers having the capacity to accommodate 50 inmates will be established. However, in Mangalore, the district health and family welfare department has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with K S Hegde Hospital to replace the day care centers with rehabs.”

Revealing the statistics on the percentage of patients, he said that a total 14 percent of the population needs Medicare to cure mental illness. “The proportion of doctors to patients is dwindling since many psychiatrists fly abroad and psychiatric social workers give up the discipline,” said Dr Pai.

“The authority is planning to build 60-bed care centers with free residential facility across the state. These will materialize through public-private partnership programmes. The private agencies interested in participating will be made payments well in advance. Grants of Rs 2 crore per district will be given. Now, Rs 1,60,000 has been delivered from the government.Teachers of the schools will be trained to counsel the students on mental health issues,” he added.

Pal said the authority will also deal with rape and constitute a center to analyze the mindset of the rapists. He stressed that sex education should be made compulsory, which according to Dr Pai, facilitates upholding of moral values in the society.

Separately, in a press meet held at the District Hospital, Ajjarkad, Udupi, Dr Pai, said, “In four districts there is no mental health authority—Karwar, Ramanagar, Bijapur, and Yadgiri. In two years, all districts will have mental health care centers. We plan to provide free mental diagnostics under the governmental scheme of ‘Maneyangaladalli Manasika Arogya.’

The authority aims to make Karnataka state a model for mental health in the country. About 10 members have been selected as trainers and they will visit the taluk panchayat, once a week as per their convenience.

“At present, there are around 250 psychiatrists, 200 clinical psychologists, and an equal number of psychiatric social workers in the state. There are 15 lac people who do not have access to basic mental health care facilities in the nation, and hardly 50 psychiatrists get trained annually in Karnataka due to a lack of psychology students. In Karnataka, there are 75 lac people who need routine mental health checks,” said Dr Pai.

He said that one psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, psychiatric social worker, and nurse are each needed for every 1,10,000 people.

Dr Pai assured that by the end of August, the recruitment process will be complete and all colleges will have trained counsellors.