RONO HILLS, Jun 2: The mental health support scenario in the State has apparently got a shot in the arm with the development of a referral linkage pathway connecting mental health professionals and service providers according to their areas of expertise.
This outcome came up during a consultative-cum-stakeholder meeting of mental health professionals and advocates of the State, conducted by the ICMR-AITS Project Team, Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) at the RGU premises here today.
The initiative aims to facilitate timely referrals, improve coordination among service providers, enhance efficiency in mental healthcare delivery, and ensure that individuals in need receive appropriate support and treatment.
The meeting, which involved approximately 25 mental health professionals and advocates representing a diverse range of organizations and service sectors across the State, included counsellors from the District Child Protection Units (DCPU), clinical psychologists and counsellors from the Tele-MANAS Cell, Arunachal Pradesh, professionals from Midpu Mental Hospital, substance abuse counsellors from Kripa Foundation and Opioid Substitution Treatment (OST) Centres, representatives from TRIHMS, private mental health practitioners, school counsellors, and mental health advocates.
The deliberations focused on understanding the current mental health scenario in Arunachal Pradesh exploring critical issues such as emerging mental health concerns, contributing factors, commonly observed symptoms, key informants, help-seeking pathways, barriers to treatment, the role of family and parenting, and existing gaps in mental health infrastructure and service delivery within the State.
The consultation was facilitated by Dr Leeyir Ete, research scientist-II of the ICMR-AITS Project, wherein family environment and parenting practices emerged as playing a pivotal role in shaping the mental health and well-being of individuals across the lifespan.
Participants emphasized the need for greater family engagement and preventive interventions that strengthen emotional support systems within homes and communities.
Another important observation emerging from the consultation was the need to develop culturally relevant and context-specific mental health interventions, complementing conventional talk-based counselling approaches.
Participants stressed the importance of incorporating local cultural practices, community resources, and indigenous knowledge systems to improve the accessibility and effectiveness of mental health services in the State.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr Hatobin Mai, In-charge of Tele-MANAS, Arunachal Pradesh, highlighted the significant contribution of Tele-MANAS in expanding access to mental healthcare services across the State. He also underscored the crucial role of the District Mental Health Programmes (DMHPs) operating across the 16 districts of the State in addressing mental health concerns and improving service outreach.
Dr Tarun Mene, Principal Investigator ICMR-AITS Project, emphasized the importance of collaborative consultations among stakeholders and described the meeting as a historic step towards building a more coordinated and responsive mental healthcare ecosystem in the State. He noted that meaningful progress in mental health requires sustained partnerships among professionals, institutions, communities, and policymakers.
Dr Amit Kumar, Co-Principal Investigator of the project, highlighted the crucial responsibility of mental health professionals in addressing the growing mental health needs of the population, and stressed the importance of collective action to strengthen support systems and service delivery mechanisms.