Karnataka: Naman rural mental health program started

Bengaluru: To address the mental health needs in rural communities, including preventive treatment and rehabilitation aspects of the population, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Monday virtually launched the program ‘Naman’, a health initiative. Mentally adapted to rural communities.

The programme, directed by Ashray Hasta Trust in collaboration with the health departments (of Karnataka and Uttarakhand) and NIMHANS, was launched in two taluks in the country: Belur taluk of Hassan district in Karnataka and Munsiyari taluk of Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand.

Sharing details of the programme, Dinesh, Trustee Administrator, Ashraya Hasta Trust, said: “All individuals should have equal access to mental health care. Through NAME we strive to take mental health to the most remote places. The program will not only treat mental illnesses but will also take measures to prevent them. We will not follow a vertical approach, but will learn from the community and cover the entire population from womb to grave.

Dr Pratima Murthy, Director, NIMHANS, said: “The NAMAN program is part of a new era of mental health awareness and treatment in rural India. “Karnataka is the first state to launch mental health program at district and taluk level”.

While the NAMAN programme, planned for a three-year horizon, is set to transform the paradigm of holistic mental health interventions, Gundu Rao said the state health department is taking several initiatives to address mental health and the outcomes of this program will be monitored. On the basis . ., which will itself extend to other districts.