Govt not to remove 'mental illness' from Disabilities Act: Minister

Madurai, July 1 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan today said the government was committed to the welfare of the ''mentally-ill'' and it will not succumb to the lobby demanding its removal from the Disabilities Act.

Inaugurating the 21st Annual Conference of the Indian Psychiatry Society's (IPS) Tamil Nadu Chapter here, the Minister said the need to pay special attention and care to the mentally disabled have gained importance in the last ten to 15 years.

Citing a 2001 survey, Ms Jagadeesan said seriously-affected mental patients accounted for one per cent of the country's total population.

While 15 per cent suffered from anxiety and depression, five per cent were affected by drug-induced psychological disorders.

She said the Centre had implemented 340 programmes, including 20 in Tamil Nadu, to address the problem of the mentally-ill. About 50,000 people, suffering from mental health-related issues have benefited from these programmes.

In an effort to provide training along with treatment to the disabled, a Rs 68-crore training centre with multiple facilities is coming up at Muttukadu near Chennai, she said adding the centre would be completed within five years and Rs 25 crore has been sanctioned for its commencement of work.

Highlighting the gruesome fire accident at Yervadi in Ramanathapuram district which claimed lives of many mentally disabled people, she said there was an urgent need to improve the infrastructure to provide treatment and rehabilitation to mentally sick people.

However, the Minister appreciated the efforts of the state in providing assistance and creating awareness on mental health.

Earlier, Dr Nambi of the Tamil Nadu Psychiatry Development Centre had appealed to the Minister to take steps to set up mental health hospitals in each district in Tamil Nadu to cater to the needs of nearly seven lakh seriously-affected mental patients in the state.

Dr C Ramasubramaniam, noted psychiatrist and president of the IPS Tamil Nadu Chapter, called for renewed efforts with a futuristic vision to involve the family in mental health care.

He suggested a novel initiative of forming family Self Help Groups (SHGs), with family members of the mentally-ill to bridge the gap between hospitalisation and community living.

UNI CR AJ HS PC/ KP2010