PANAJI
Goa's primary healthcare system has ventured into unchartered territory – mental health – and about 10 per cent of nearly 75,000 people screened after a programme launched to tackle depression have been identified to be confronting various stages of it and are being counselled.
"Already, 74,524 patients have been screened, with 10% identified with depression and provided counselling," Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said on Wednesday.
According to Rane, the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) has tied up with Sangath, a prominent non-governmental organisation specialising in mental health and behavioural disorders, to take the latter's 'Impress' programme to Goa's primary healthcare system.
It involves comprehensive training of selective personnel from across all the PHCs in Goa.
Thus far, 87 health workers are now equipped with skills to counsel mental health patients and already nearly 75,000 patients have been screened for mental health issues under the programme, he said.
"It's a ground breaking move. Goa is the first State to implement such a large scale, evidence based depression treatment initiative," Rane said, adding that it will revolutionise mental healthcare.
"‘Impress’ aims to reduce the treatment gap for depression. We developed, revised and piloted our community intervention materials while also working towards embedding systems in 30 healthcare facilities all over Goa," Sangath says on its website about the programme.
The NGO claims it is partnered by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, the Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mount Sinai Hospital, Ontario, Canada and the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada for the programme.
