With the aim to strengthen mental health services at the primary healthcare level, which is one of the core objectives of the National Health Policy (NHP) 2017, Rajasthan government has started mental health research at Primary Healthcare centers (PHCs).
Initially, the research has been started at two PHCs in Alwar district and IIHMR University has implemented the Global Mental Health Assessment Tool (GMHAT) at those two PHCs.
With the state government’s support, the university trained auxiliary nurse midwives for conducting a mental health assessment of visiting patients and the research has revealed that out of 918 interviews conducted at these centers, 9% were diagnosed with mental illness and 8% were validated by experts.
“Countering various challenges of accessibility and resources, this research was conducted at two sub-health centers in Alwar which cover the neighboring areas with a population base of around 5000. Depression, schizophrenia, and learning disability were some of the mental health diseases that were prevalent in the regional population,” Dr Pankaj Gupta, President, IIHMR University said.
“Through the study, we wanted to assess how mental assessment can be implemented at the primary healthcare level and whether the frontline functionaries such as auxiliary nurse midwives can be trained to conduct mental health assessment for all visiting patients,” he added.
The assessment included using a quasi-experimental ‘Study and Comparison Group Pre-test or Post-test Design’. The digital Global Mental Health Assessment Tool was applied at Sub-center and PHC level for all those who had come for any health care services.
“During the research, a five-day training on the digital GMHAT for frontline functionaries was conducted through collaboration with various stakeholders. This also included sensitizing the functionaries on mental health,” said Dr SD Gupta, who headed the research.
“The functionaries were also trained at psychiatric centre with actual patients before they were put on the job training. This puts into focus the need for a mental health assessment to be accessible at all levels of socioeconomic strata of society.
Also, it is a sign that with trained human resource and digital technology, the mental health services can be delivered at the PHC level,” he added. Dr Thomas G Schulze, secretary for the scientific section, World Psychiatric Association informed that in a move to uplift the state of mental health and to bring about a constructive change in South East Asia, WPA is tying up with a host of NGO’s and other significant bodies.
THE SUPPORT
With the government’s support, the university trained auxiliary nurse midwives for conducting a mental health assessment of visiting patients and the research has revealed that out of 918 interviews conducted at these centers, 9% were diagnosed with mental illness and 8% were validated by experts.
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 "Mental Health")
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