Nimhans and Doon Medical team are conducting a survey on mentally ill children and adolescents in the state

-Mental health program Naman launched in Pithoragarh
Dehradun, 09 July (HS). Under the State Mental Health Authority, a team from Doon Medical College and the renowned National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) in Bangalore is conducting a survey on children and adolescents suffering from mental illness in Uttarakhand.

Health Secretary Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar says that the objective of the mental patients survey is to find out the causes and diagnosis of mental diseases in children. He said that the government is committed to the proper treatment of people suffering from mental diseases and their rights. In the state, under the Mental Health Authority, 107 government, non-government mental health institutions, besides de-addiction centers are registered. The State Mental Health Authority and Mental Health Review Board conduct surprise inspections of these centers from time to time. It is being ensured that no center violates the standards with mental patients.

According to the Health Secretary, along with providing good treatment to the mentally ill, their rights are also being protected. He informed that the team of NIMHANS and Doon Medical is conducting a survey on autism, lack of intelligence and common mental disorders among the adolescents and children of the state. Under this, NIMHANS has started a mental health program named Naman in Pithoragarh. Here the medical staff is being trained in view of mental diseases.

Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar said that work is being done to upgrade the Mental Health Institute located in Selaqui and make it a 100-bed mental hospital. Work is being done on the plan to build a 100-bed mental hospital in Gethiya, Nainital. He said that the process of construction of two rehabilitation centers by the Social Welfare Department is underway.