Policy and programmes for mental health in Kerala

Excerpt

A meta-analysis of 13 epidemiological studies shows a prevalence of 5.8% for mental illnesses. Psychiatric morbidity is associated with urban residence, female gender, 35-44 years age group, low socio economic status and nuclear family type. Mental health care facilities are lacking along with a huge gap in professional manpower availability. The available manpower is top heavy and concentrated in the private sector. The National mental health programme aims to assure minimum mental health care for all by application of mental health knowledge in general health care, community participation, and equitable and balanced distribution of resources and integration of mental health with general health services. The programme has failed so far to achieve its objectives due to the absence of a national mental health policy and a lack of mechanism to incorporate political leadership. There is a definite trend towards shifting from public to private health care across all income groups. …