Mental Health Scenario in The North
Eastern Region Of India
The following table has been reproduced
from National Survey of Mental Health Resources carried
out by the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry
of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India, during May
and July 2002.
Mental Health Resource Map
Of The North Eastern States
Parameters
Assam
Arunachal
Pradesh
Manipur
Meghalaya
Mizoram
Nagaland
Tripura
Population
26638407
1091117
2388634
2306069
891058
1988636
3191168
Estimated
case load of Major Mental disorders
266384
10911
23886
23060
8910
19886
31911
Estimated
case load of Minor Mental disorders
1331720
54555
119430
115300
44550
99430
159555
Existing
facilities - Hospital beds in Govt. Sector
500
10
10
70
14
25
16
Existing
facilities - Hospital beds in Pvt. Sector
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Manpower Resources
i) Psychiatrists
Available
Required
Deficit
29
266
237
1
10
9
6
24
18
5
23
18
4
9
5
5
20
15
9
31
22
Clinical Psychologists
Available
Required
Deficit
5
450
445
-
15
15
1
36
35
-
35
35
1
13
12
-
30
30
-
45
45
Psychiatric
Social Worker
Available
Required
Deficit
1
564
563
-
20
20
2
48
46
-
46
46
1
18
17
-
40
40
-
62
62
Psychiatric
Nurses
Available
Required
Deficit
1
50
49
-
1
1
-
1
1
2
7
5
2
2
-
1
3
2
-
2
2
The above table clearly shows
the inadequacy of mental health resources in the North
Eastern States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya,
Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. Though the figures
quoted above are from the year 2002, it can be clearly
stated that there has not been much improvement in the
situation in the last four years. Even today the LGB Regional
Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur is the only exclusive
Psychiatric Hospital catering to the population of nearly
40 million in the region. This Institute has only 318
available beds.
The picture presented is more related
to the clinical treatment, but the issue of mental health
needs interventions in many more areas of awareness
generation and rehabilitation.
States like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are the only exception
where, the local governments have been more proactive
and supportive of Non-Governmental initiatives.
In the whole of the North East, Government
interventions in Awareness generation is existent in
only five districts where the 'District Mental Health
programme' is being implemented by Governmental agencies.
The issue of mental health does not find any place in
any publicity or awareness generation material under
the health or welfare portfolios. Government rehabilitation
interventions in the region consist of only a small
Indoor vocational facility at the LGB Regional Institute
of Mental Health, Tezpur.
Sadly the involvement of Civil Society
organizations has been dismal too. The only community
based organizations working exclusively in the area
of Mental Health are 'San Ker' in Shillong and 'Ashadeep'
in the state of Assam, Deshabandhu Club in the Barak
Valley and a few groups working in allied fields of
substance abuse etc. in Manipur and Mizoram.
Today it is a proven fact even in
the developed nations with sufficient resources for
mental health care, that the family or Family Support
groups, who are the primary care-givers, play a major
role in achieving a positive outcome in mental health
interventions. In the region, the Ashadeep family alliance
at Guwahati is the only such functional group in the
field of Mental illness.
The lack of awareness and inadequacy
of primary mental health interventions is resulting
in a rapidly growing number of homeless persons having
mental disorders. And again there are no support systems
in the Government or Non- Governmental sectors for this
marginalized section.
