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District Mental Health Programme to begin in Mumbai soon

The programme aims at early detection and treatment of common mental illnesses with a limited number of drugs under specialists' guidance.

District Mental Health Programme to begin in Mumbai soon
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The District Mental Health Programme (DMHP), funded by the Centre, is likely to commence in Mumbai soon. The programme is already running in 34 districts of Maharashtra. The Centre has already sanctioned posts of two psychiatrists and other required staff in the programme, which is expected to be approved by 2022.

The Directorate of Health Services (DHS) has implemented the DMHP in all states. In each district, the programme comprises seven positions, including a psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, psychiatric nurse, psychiatric social worker, community nurse, among other staff.

 Dr Sadhana Tayade, Director of DHS, Maharashtra, said that they have put up a proposal under the Programme Implementation Plan (PIP). 

Under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the city has a strong network of medical facilities; therefore, new programmes can often lead to replication. To steer clear of this, DHS plans to get a non-profit organization on board. It will conduct a preliminary survey and find the gaps in mental health facilities in the city.

The DHS officials have said that even though funding from the Centre is pivotal, finding psychiatrists is a big challenge. At present, for psychiatrists, there are 41 posts sanctioned under  DMHP in  Maharashtra. However, 11 are currently vacant. Their priority is to fill these vacancies.

The programme aims at early detection and treatment of common mental illnesses with a limited number of drugs under specialists' guidance. 

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