Mental health is a vital issue at the best of times, but the need for meaningful support in the community has become even more relevant, said state commissioner for persons with disability (SCPwD), Diethono Nakhro.
She was speaking at the “world mental health day” programme organised by Community Mental Health Programme (CMHP) prodigal’s home in collaboration with office of the state commissioner for persons with disability and Dimapur Legal Services Authority (DDDLSA) here Saturday, at tourist lodge.
Diethono said that if there was anything good coming out of the pandemic, it was that the mental health narrative had somewhat advanced and brought the urgent need to put necessary support in place.
She lamented how there was so much stigma, misinformation and shame attached to mental illness that no one seemed to talk about openly.
In this regard, she said that more conversations should take place as it could lead to people feeling less alone in their suffering, help them open up and reduce the silence and shame.
She said that the theme, “mental health in an unequal world” was chosen to highlight that access to mental health services remained unequal with between 75% to 95% of people with mental disorders unable to access mental health services.
Diethono said that inequality needs to be addressed and it should be ensured that people with experience of mental health were fully integrated in all aspects of life.
SCPwD calls for implementation of Mental Healthcare Act 2017
With regard to Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 which provides access to mental healthcare as a right, Diethono said that in the state, some legal proceedings were ongoing and the state government was asked to get it notified and start implementation within a given period of time.
She said that it should be complied with but should not just be a court order as.
She called on the state government to immediately put the machinery in place, establish statutory agencies and begin the implementation of the Act.
Diethono called for collaborative effort from policy-makers, regulators, civil society and investment in institutional support mechanisms.
CJM (IC) and DDLSA secretary BP Resu also highlighted key differences in the mental health Act 1987 and 2017.
It may be mentioned that parliament enacted Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 which repealed the Mental Health Act, 1987 and under the new law, a person suffering from any kind of mental disability or disorder is not required to be armed with a reception order from a judicial magistrate to be admitted in a mental hospital.
CMHP activities, objectives, roles and focus were highlighted by CMHP field coordinator K Sani where he informed the implementation area which comprised of village/colonies under Chumoukedima (52 villages as per census 2011).
According to CMPH, activities under Chumoukedima block, Sani reported that 224 patients were identified and 101 were enrolled.
The programme also conducted 56 community awareness programmes, three training on identifications with Asha and anganwadi workers, workshops on mental healthcare Act 2017 with DDLSA, police and health department.
Under the programme, two children were moved to child care institutions in Chumukedima, one lady who was mentally ill, was rescued and moved to a mental home centre at Golaghat with assistance from Sakhi one stop centre, Dimapur.
Highlights of the programme included releasing of official music video by Sunep Lemtur, “Moi Kumzor nahoi” and declaration of photography winner and presentation.
Later, benediction was said by Christian education department police Baptist church, T Lothunglo Kikon.