The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) and Bengaluru based charitable trust NGO Ashraya Hastha Trust (AHT) have signed a MoU with a view to implementing a model comprehensive rural mental health programme named “NAMAN” (NIMHANS-AHT Comprehensive Mental-Health Action Program for Rural Communities) in two taluks before being rolled out throughout the country. 

“NAMAN” stands for NIMHANS-AHT Comprehensive Mental-Health Action Program for Rural Communities.  

The two taluks are in Karnataka and Uttarakhand. These two taliukas ate Munsiyari in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district and Belur Taluk in the  Hassan district of Karnataka. 

NIMHANS will develop and implement the overall roadmap of the program

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) -Rishikesh will join hands with NIMHANS to implement the program in Uttarakhand. Other implementation partners include the state governments of Karnataka and Uttarakhand.

The mental healthcare programme will be implemented over three years in four phases. The first phase involves resource building including staff recruitment and training. The second phase will involve the conducting of the situational analysis to assess the mental health of the respective taluks. The third phase is intervention, which involves therapeutic and rehabilitation services. Evaluation is the final phase.

The collaboration will boost the country’s mental health services.

The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences is the apex centre for mental health and neuroscience education in the country. The Institute operates autonomously under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Key Takeaways

• Nimhans and AHT to implement a model comprehensive rural mental health programme NAMAN

•The two taluks selected for implementing NAMAN are Munsiyari in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district and Belur Taluk in Karnataka’s Hassan district.