CM Stalin Unveils Policy for Homeless Persons with Mental Illness

Chennai: In a move to address the needs of one of society's most vulnerable segments, Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday released the state’s new policy for the care of Homeless Persons with Mental Illness (HPWMI) and its Implementation Framework – 2024. The policy, introduced by the Health and Family Welfare Department, aims to ensure the well-being of homeless individuals grappling with mental health issues. 

The policy outlines a four-tiered care system designed to address the various stages of recovery and reintegration for individuals facing homelessness and mental health challenges. The levels of care include rescue and acute care, intermediary care, long-term care, and social integration.

The policy details a structured Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to be followed during rescue operations. If a rescuer encounters a homeless individual who shows signs of mental illness, they are required to inform the nearest police station, assisting the police in the rescue effort. The police, with or without the help of NGOs, should take the individual in question to a government medical college hospital or a headquarters hospital for admission. A medical assessment should be conducted, and the medical officer in charge must ensure that a mental health evaluation is arranged.

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As per the recent media report by TNIE, the policy states that if the person doesn’t have a mental illness, then the psychiatrist should inform the police for a reunion with the family, or if the person has a mental illness and is severely ill, he/she should be treated at the medical college hospital itself.

The policy also guides specific cases, such as individuals under 18, women, pregnant women, and victims of crime.

After being discharged from acute psychiatric care, the HPWMI should be transferred to the Emergency Care and Response Centre (ECRC) for intermediate care. The policy stipulates that the duration of stay at the ECRC should be no longer than 12 months or until the person is successfully reunited with their family.

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They should also be provided access to disability benefits, banking support, and other welfare schemes available under different government departments. They should be provided access to livelihood through jobs.

In long-term care and social integration, when the inmates cannot be reunited with their families, they should be transferred to halfway homes to encourage independent living through community integration.

The rehabilitation program for inmates should include social skill development, basic home management, pre-employment preparation, tracking of health, and follow-up treatment. Employment opportunities should also be facilitated through skill assessment, job placement assistance, and encouragement of entrepreneurship, the policy states.

According to the news reports, key highlights in addressing the needs of homeless persons include:

• The policy defines a homeless person with mental illness as any individual with mental health issues found wandering in public places, abandoned by their family, or unable to be cared for by their family.

• The Chief Executive Officer of the State Mental Health Authority (SMHA) will act as the nodal authority for impaneling NGOs involved in rescue operations.

• The new initiative also designates the ‘102’ helpline as the central number for HPWMI rescue operations. Currently, information about homeless individuals suspected to have a mental illness is received through various helpline numbers from different departments, including 100 (police), 102, 104, 14416, district counseling centers' mobile helplines (health), and 181 (women’s helpline). Upon receiving information about a person, these other helplines will forward the details to the ‘102’ helpline for appropriate action.

• The policy stresses the need for comprehensive research into the clinical, epidemiological, and operational aspects of homelessness and mental illness, helping to better understand the needs of this vulnerable group.

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According to the Hindu, among the key recommendations of the framework is to increase the number of government service homes under the Department for Welfare of the Differently Abled Persons for the expansion of long-term care services for HPWMI.