MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMME

INTRODUCTION:

We M.Sc Nursing II year, department of community Health Nursing students as part

our curriculum were posted in baby Sara home and participate.

Mental health is an integral and essential component of health. World health

organization defines the mental health as a state of well-being in which an individual realizes
his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stressors of life and can work productively
and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.

In the positive sense, health is the foundation for individual well=being and the
effective functioning of the community.

Globally the mental health problem are rising and the burden of illness resulting from
the psychiatric and behavioural disorders is enormous.

HISTORY:

The government of India launched the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP)
in 1982, keeping in view the heavy burden of mental illness in the community, and the
absolute inadequacy of mental health care in fracture the country to deal with it.

The district Mental Health Program was added to the program in 1996.

The program was re-strategized in 2003 to include two schemes:

 Modernization of state mental Hospital

 Up-graduation of psychiatric wings of medical colleges/general hospital
 The manpower development schemes (schemes A &B) became part of the program in
2009.

AIMS:

 Prevention and treatment of mental and neurological disorders and their associated
disabilities
 Uses of mental health technology to improve general health services
 Application of mental health principles in total national developing improve
quality of life
COMPONENTS:

 Treatment of mentally ill

 Rehabilitation
 Prevention and promotion of positive mental health

STATEGIES:

 Integration mental health with primary health care thought the NMHP
 Provision of tertiary care institution for treatment of mental disorders
 Eradicating stigmatization of mentally ill patients and protecting their rights through
regulatory institutions like the central mental health Authority, and state mental health
Authority.

WARNING SIGNS OF MENTALLY ILL PERSONS

IN YOUNG CHILDREN:

 Changes in school performance

 Poor grades despite strong efforts
 Change in sleeping and eating habits
 Hyperactivity
 Frequent temper tantrums.

IN OLDER CHILDREN AND PRE ADOLESCENCE

 Substance used
 Inability to cope with problem and daily activities
 Changes in sleeping and eating
 Excessive complaint of physical alignment
 Changes in ability to manage responsibilities at home and school
 Prolonged negative mood often accomplished by poor appetite or thoughts of death

IN ADULTS YOUNG ADULTS:

 Confused thinking
 Prolonged depression
 Feeling of extreme high and low
 Excessive fear and anxiety
 Social withdrawal
 Dramatic changes in eating and sleeping habits
 Strong feeling of anger
 Strong thoughts(delusion)
 Seeing of hearing things that are not there (Hallucination) & suicidal thoughts

NURSES ROLE IN NMHP/MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES:

 Understand the characteristics of mentally healthy person and differentiate abnormal

form normal behaviour in the community
 Identified refer follow up the mentally ill person in the community
 Provide first aid during emergencies
 Assist and co-ordinate the activities related to care of mentally ill in the community
health center
 Conduct mental health education to pt. and there family members
 Providing training to health worker in mental health care
 Supervision and monitor the activities of health worker related mental health care
 Participate in various therapies used in treating psychiatric patient
 Assist medical officer and co-ordinate the program activity related to NMHP
 Organize and co-ordinate the rehabilitates activity for mentally ill the community