1 Doctor for every 10,000 Mental Health Patients ?

 

 

In this context following news is most welcome :

Budget 2022: Sitharaman announces 24x7 free tele counselling for mental health

Extract :

Ø  The government will launch a national tele-mental health programme to provide 24x7 free counselling and care to people, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Tuesday.

Ø  The initiative will include a network of 23 tele-mental health centres of excellence, with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) as its nodal centre and International Institute of Information Technology-Bangalore (IIITB) providing technological support.

Ø  The programme will provide round-the-clock access to mental health care services to people, health minister Mansukh Mandaviya said. “The National Tele-Mental Health Programme will ensure access to quality, standardized & free 24x7 mental health services to all and will play a crucial role in bridging a major gap in access to mental healthcare in the country.

   #AatmaNirbharBharatKaBudget,” he tweeted.

Ø  People receiving treatment for mental conditions also found it difficult to access care.

 

National Tele-Mental Health Programme launched  /  Business Line / 02 Feb 2022

Extract :

According to Amit Bose, Co-founder, Emotionally.In, an online mental healthcare provider, “Because of the pandemic, a large percentage of Indians of all ages, all social and economic classes are suffering from loneliness, stress, anxiety, depression and grief related psychological problems. The new scheme will definitely help destigmatise mental health and provide much needed care.

 

India’s Mental Health Crisis 

Extract :

Ø  Vatsala isn’t the only one. Many youngsters who made up their minds about seeking therapy are eventually dropping out, due to the high cost and inaccessibility.

 

Ø  Jatin Garg had a similar problem. He wanted a psychologist but to find the right therapist for yourself in a small city like Dehradun is nothing less than a miracle.

 

Ø  Had both Vatsala and Jatin found the right, affordable experts in their respective cities - they wouldn’t have to spend so much money on therapy.

 

Ø  In fact, these two are just one of the millions who need therapy. According to WHO, 7.5% or 90 million Indians suffer from some sort of mental disorder that requires expert intervention. 

 

Ø  This startling figure is even more worrisome when we look at the number of therapists available. Several reports highlight that there are just 9000 psychiatrists in India and the number of clinical psychologists is even lesser.

 

MY  TAKE  :

 

Dear Shri Mansukh Mandaviyaji,

 

Please consider the following :

#  With waves after waves of COVID rolling in , expect this situation to get only

    worse over coming years

#  It is just impossible to vastly increase the number of Mental Health

    Practitioners ( Psycho-Therapists /  Psychiatrists ) even after 5 years

     

#   Each of those 23 tele mental health centres can, at most, accommodate 10

     mental health Counsellors ( listening / talking, using phone or Video call )

    

#  During an 8 hour work-shift, each Counsellor can possibly listen / talk to 10

    patients ( making 100 patients  / shift ).

    That adds up to 300 per day ( 3 shifts of 8 hours each )

#  That means, 23 centres can help , a max of 6,900 patients per day ( how to “

     prioritize “ 90 million ? )

#  But then, a great majority of those 90 million are simply “ depressed “ being “

    lonely “, and all the help  that they need is for a “sympathetic“ person to

   “ listen to their woes “(unburdening of their feelings ? )

   

#  It is possible to get a MILLION sympathetic Indians to gladly VOLUNTEER to “

    listen “ to these lonely persons, using an ONLINE PLATFORM as described

    below.

   

    If you personally request, Shri Sundar Pichai ( CEO – Google ) would be happy

    to integrate just announced “ Workspace Essential Starter “ , into :

     

   Share - Your – Soul  ………………………….[  24 July 2016 ]

 

   Extract :

Ø     VEHICLE

 

 This strictly " Online " service will have a platform called ,  www...COUCH...com  ( supported by a Mobile App )

 

USERS

 

 There will be two kinds of users who will register on this site , viz:

       *  "Talkers" , who want to engage someone who will listen to them /

            sympathize with them

       *  "Listeners", who will listen patiently/ask occasional question/offer

           advice - sympathy – empathy

 

 

Please visit    Share - Your – Soul  , for operational details under following headings :

Ø  Registration form

Ø  Searching database of listeners

Ø  Service charge

Ø  Payment mechanism

Ø  Process

Ø  Reputation system

Ø  Usage  history

Ø  Privacy

Ø  Promoting  the  service

    Business  model

With Regards,

Hemen Parekh  /  hcp@RecruitGuru.com  /  05 Feb 2022

  ==================================================

Related Readings :

 

OnlineJobsFair  ………………………………………………… [11 Feb 2016 ]

Robot : A Therapeutic Machine ? ……………………. [ 09 Oct 2016 ]

Will Robots get better than Humans ?............. [ 17 June 2017 ]

A Chatbot to drive away Blues ? …………………….. [ 23 June 2017 ]

 

From  Tele-phony  to  Tele-Empathy  ?............ [ 27 Mar 2018 ]