TN launches MaNaM initiative to offer psychological support to medical college students

Chennai: Offering psychological support to the students of the medical colleges, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M K Stalin on Thursday launched the Mananala Nallaatharavu Mandram (MaNaM) initiative.

The MaNaM scheme of the State has been introduced while considering the mental health of all the 36 government medical college students. It aims to prevent suicides and suicidal tendencie among the medicos by dealing with their mental health issues. 

Referring to the scheme, Tamil nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian said that peer counsellors would be roped in to identify students with mental distress and provide them psychological support. A team comprising a professor and 10 students would be established in each college for the purpose.

"Initially, MaNaM will be implemented in all the medical colleges and gradually expanded to the arts and science colleges," Subramanian added.

MaNaM helpline number is 14416. Efforts to upgrade the IMH to a premier Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences were on, adds PTI.

"The MaNaM aims to prevent suicides and suicidal tendencies among the students and also to tackle their mental health issues in all the 36 government medical colleges across the State," said the Health Minister.

Also Read: Give Weekly Off, Stress Counselling, Yoga sessions: NMC dictum to medical colleges to manage resident doctors' Mental Health

The MaNaM scheme has come at a time when even the National Medical Commission (NMC) has shown its concern regarding the number of suicides in the medical colleges. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that taking cognizance of the instances of suicide and resignation of medical students, NMC had directed the medical colleges in the country to submit the statistics regarding the number of students who committed suicide and left colleges during the last 5 years within October 7, 2022.

Previously, the Apex medical commission had directed all the medical colleges and institutions providing PG medical training to address the issues to PG medicos ( resident Doctors). For the same, the medical colleges had been directed to take numerous steps which range from ensuring adequate rest, weekly off, counseling for those who are under stress, arranging Yoga sessions on regular basis, sanctioning leave when required and respecting their dignity by providing a positive conducive working environment.

Along with launching the MaNaM scheme, the Tamil Nadu CM also flagged off 75 upgraded ambulances of the GVK EMRI 108 ambulance service, equipped with modern life-saving equipment, at an estimated cost of Rs 22.84 crore. He inaugurated also an intermediate care centre for inmates of the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) here. The centre, with 14 rooms, was established at a cost of Rs 2.36 crore.

The Half Way Home, already functioning at the IMH to accommodate the patients who have recovered but were not accepted by their families was upgraded. The Chief Minister unveiled a three- dimensional view of the proposed new building.

Also Read: NMC seeks report on suicides by medicos, directs institutes to submit data