Punjab police, health department and PGIMER join hands to provide care and treatment to mentally ill people

Chandigarh, December 27, 2013: The Punjab Police, State department of Health and Family Welfare and PGIMER, Chandigarh have joined hands to identify and care of mentally ill people who are languishing out aimlessly and not capable of taking care of themselves especially in this cold winter season. They have decided to launch co-ordinate campaign to help such vulnerable persons by getting them admitted in the Institute of Mental Health, Amritsar for their treatment and recovery.
Presiding over a special session on the Role of Police’ in implementing the Mental Health Act, the Punjab DGP Sumedh Singh directed the field officers to accord top priority to the wellbeing of such persons, and tie up with health officials to extend them all necessary help, especially in these extreme winter conditions. He asked them to also coordinate with the managements of different social and religious organisations and non-government organizations for taking care of such persons, and extend every possible help.
At the onset of the meeting Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary Health & Family Welfare pointed out that keeping in view the plight of mentally ill people who are unable to look after themselves, and are often living in a miserable condition, the State government has emphasized on the need to provide quality health care to mentally ill people. She said that besides indoor treatment facilities at Institute of Mental Health, Amritsar, MD (Psychiatry) doctors have been appointed at all district level hospitals. She also sought the cooperation of State police department for effective implementation of Mental Health Act 1987.
A three member team of eminent psychiatrists from PGIMER comprising of Dr. Ajit Awasthi, Dr. Debasish Basu and Dr. Sandeep Grover gave detailed presentations on various aspects of mental health. Dr. Basu explained the concept and identification of mental illness while Dr. Grover focused on treatment of mental illness. Dr. Avasthi presented an overview of Mental Health Act besides the salient features of Mental Health Care Bill-2013 which is likely to be approved next year.
Dr. BL Goyal, Director, IMH, Amritsar while highlighting the poor plight of mentally ill persons revealed that even after their treatment their families often never bother to take them back. He offered to admit and take care of every mentally ill person at IMH so that they could be looked after better.
The meeting was attended by all the additional DGPs, Zonal IGs and Commissioners of Police from throughout the State of Punjab.
The issue of de-addiction was also discussed in the meeting and it was decided that Police, Health departments would collaborate and work closely with each other to ensure de-addiction of maximum number of people.