NIMHANS, Ashraya Hastha Trust join hands to implement rural mental health programme in two taluks

Bengaluru: The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) and Bengaluru-based charitable trust, NGO Ashraya Hastha Trust (AHT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Bengaluru on Thursday with an aim to implement a model comprehensive rural mental health programme in two taluks, each in Uttarakhand and Karnataka.  

The name of the programme is 'NAMAN' (NIMHANS-AHT Comprehensive Mental-Health Action Program for Rural Communities) which would be first implemented in the two taluks as a model before being rolled out throughout the country. 

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Munsiyari of Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand and Belur Taluk in Hassan district of Karnataka have been selected for the model implementation of the programme. 

NIMHANS, in a release, stated, "This programme envisions to deliver promotive (i.e., implementing a multi-pronged approach to promote mental health in the general public); preventive (i.e., engaging with vulnerable populations to prevent mental illnesses, including addiction to substances and gadgets); therapeutic (i.e., providing comprehensive interventions and appropriate referrals for those with mental illnesses); and rehabilitative (i.e., offering comprehensive rehabilitation services including disability assessment and benefits to the persons living with mental health conditions) care for the entire population of the target taluks utilising the existing human resources in the community." 

The roadmap of the programme would be developed and implemented by NIMHANS. It would be implemented in four different phases over a period of three years. The first phase involves resource building which includes staff recruitment and training, the second is a situational analysis where the mental health of the taluks would be assessed, the third is intervention methods involving therapeutic and rehabilitation, and the fourth phase involves evaluation. 

In Uttarakhand, AIIMS Rishikesh would join hands with NIMHANS to implement the programme. The Government of Karnataka and the Government of Uttarakhand would also be collaborating with the institutes for developing the programme. 

K Dinesh, Co-founder of Infosys and Managing Trustee of AHT, as per a media report in the Indian Express, has expressed his optimism regarding the collaboration stating that it would boost the country’s mental health services. 

The Ashraya Hastha Trust is a Bengaluru-based charitable organization funded by Infosys’ Co-founder K Dinesh and his family. NIMHANS is the apex centre for mental health and neuroscience education in the country, functioning autonomously under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 

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