Mental Health Programme                 

Aims & Objectives of NHMP & DMHP

NMHP: The Government of India has launched the National Mental Health Programme(NMHP) in 1982, with the following objectives:

1.    To ensure the availability and accessibility of minimum mental healthcare for all in the foreseeable future, particularly to the most vulnerable and underprivileged sections of the population;

2.    To encourage the application of mental health knowledge in general healthcare and in social development; and

3.    To promote community participation in the mental health service development and to stimulate efforts towards self-help in the community.

DMHP: The District Mental Programme(DMHP) was launched under NMHP in the year 1996 (in IX Five Year Plan). The DMHP was based on “Bellary Model” with the following components:

1.    Early detection & treatment.

2.    Training: imparting short term training to general physicians for diagnosis and treatment of common mental illnesses with limited number of drugs under guidance of specialist. The Health workers are being trained in identifying mentally ill persons

3.    IEC: Public awareness generation.

4.    Monitoring: The purpose is for simple Record Keeping.

5.    To provide mental health services including prevention, promotion and long term continuing care at different levels of district healthcare delivery system.

6.     To augment institutional capacity in terms of infrastructure, equipment and human resource fir mental healthcare.

7.    To promote community awareness community awareness and participation in the delivery of mental health services.

8.    To broad-base mental health into other related programs.

Components of DMHP

1.    Service provision: Management of cases of Mental Disorders and counseling at different levels of district health care delivery system.

2.    Capacity Building: Manpower training and development for prevention, early identification and management of mental disorders. The training would be provided by Medical Officers at District Hospitals to Community Health Workers at grass root level.

3.    Awareness generation through IEC activities; for early identification of Mental Disorders so that timely management of such cases is possible as well as for removal of stigma attached to Mental Illness.

Service Provided: 

1.    Psychotherapy

2.    Free distribution of drugs

3.    Mental Health Awareness

4.    Home visit

5.    Free clinic

6.    Tele-counselling