A. Kumar / Health 3 (2011) 757-761
Copyright © 2011 SciRes. Openly accessible at http:// www.scirp.org/journal/HEALTH/
760
which mental health care and services can be strength-
ened in rural areas are increasing the availability of re-
sources, improving equity in their distribution, and en-
hancing efficiency in their utilization. Besides, there is
also a need to emphasize the role of specialists in filling
the treatment gap. Building capacity of other health
workers, particularly ASHA under the NRHM pro-
gramme may help in demand generation as well as re-
ferral. Following suggestions or strategies in combina-
tion can be used for strengthening the rural mental health
care services:
1) Convergence of National Mental Health Programme/
District Mental Health Programme under National Rural
Health Mission Programme and using existing PHCs and
sub centres to provide mental health services;
2) Capacity building of Rural/registered Medical Prac-
titioners/Primary Health care doctors/ASHA workers/
teachers/Aanganwadi workers on tailor made modules;
3) Advocacy through community, social and other
bodies and involvement of religious leaders, teachers,
local community leaders with key stakeholders;
4) Targeted awareness programme using available ru-
ral media;
5) Provisioning social security to the mentally ill pa-
tients; and
6) Training for caregivers and relatives.
10. CONCLUSIONS
The rural mental health services are neglected area
which needs immediate attention considering the burden
of disease and treatment gap. District Mental Health
Programme needs restructuring and convergence within
the NRHM. The “extension clinic” approach needs to be
replaced with integration of mental health services with
general health services, particularly under NRHM. In-
volving ASHAs under NRHM is an opportunity to pro-
vide mental health services at door steps in rural areas.
Lastly, ensuring bottom up approach and community
ownership are must to achieve universal mental health
services, care and support in rural areas.
11. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am thankful to Prof R. Srinivasa Murthy, Prof Doncho M. Donev
and Dr. Amit Ranjan Basu for their comments on the paper.
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