TISS to introduce course on mental health

With increasing stress levels and instances of spiralling violence, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in collaboration with the University College London, Catholic University of Lunan and Belgium, and some NGOs in India will introduce a course on mental health from the next academic year.

“While there are not enough qualified professionals to treat mental health issues, there is almost a non-availability of psychiatrists in non-urban areas,” said Dr S Parshuraman, TISS director. “Terrorism and poverty are closely linked with mental health issues. They are the prime reasons leading to stress.”

The course will be offered in Mumbai, Chennai and Ranchi, and will prepare nurses to treat stress issues at tehsil levels and senior professionals to work at district levels. Trained professionals from the course will work closely with the government’s district mental health programme.

The NGOs involved in the project are Banyan from Chennai which provides shelter to mentally ill destitute women and Brothers of Charity, a Catholic institute that serves people in the field of education and healthcare. 

Students from different backgrounds — nursing, medicine, psychology — can apply. “This programme is aimed at creating awareness about low-cost medicine as advised by WHO in its norms of minimum drug standards,” Parshuraman told DNA. 

He further said: “Stress and violence can also be closely interconnected. Mental health issues play a vital role here. If treated at the right time, it can avoid untoward situations.”