October 5, 2018
Bangla Govt launches mental health awareness scheme – Janamanashe
A mental health awareness scheme for everyone called Janamanashe has been launched by the Bangla Government, in collaboration with an NGO. This is run by and large by women from self-help groups (SHG), ably aided by mental health specialists.
These women are being trained by clinical psychologists, and small groups are being placed in charge of specific areas in municipal towns and cities.
They are going house to house and just chatting up with family members, since many people are not keen about discussing or even admitting to having mental problems. Through the chatting, they are getting to know about the mental health of the residents, and in the process, identifying any problem that may exist. Thus a database is being created. They are then counselling the people to make them aware of the need for treatment.
Now, here comes the second part of the work. On certain days, sessions are being organised at municipal buildings under mental health specialists. So one day it could be about the lack of attention in children, another day, about constant unwillingness to work, and so on and so forth.
The women from the SHGs, who already have a database of the issues, go around before each session to the people under their jurisdiction who need treatment or counselling and convince them to attend the sessions.
According to Health Department officials, the scheme would cover the entire State within the next one-and-a-half years.
