IMH to get rehabilitation centre for persons with mental illness

The move comes after the proposal by the Directorate of Medical Education to construct a rehabilitation centre to provide for the combined needs of half way homes and long stay homes for the persons, and the State Health Department has finally given a nod for the same.

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has framed guidelines to setup rehabilitation centres for persons with mental illness who have been cured and do not need further hospitalization. As per the guidelines, every State should assess the number of such homes, especially for the ones who require long stay homes beyond two years stay at the Mental Health Institute. Based on the guidelines, at least one or two such homes should be constructed in the city where the Mental Health Institute is located.

Currently, IMH has 34 long stay patients who require a half way home and thus, the State Health Department has made an allocation of Rs 2.36 crore for the construction of the rehabilitation centre. The Public Works Department is to undertake the construction of the homes from next year after the administrative and financial processes are completed.

Authorities from the IMH said that half way homes are the immediate need in the city as a lot of patients remain homeless as many families do not accept the patients even when they are cured because they fear that the patient might suffer from a relapse of the mental health condition.