BMC plans 24/7 psychiatric help

Dec 24, 2012 - Bhagwan Parab |

Age Correspondent

In what can be called a New Year gift to patients with psychological illnesses, the BMC has decided to start a 24x7 mental health helpline for them from January. The helpline will offer telephonic counselling to people on a range of mental health issues.

According to the civic health officials, the cases and crimes related to psychological illnesses are on the rise in the city. The helpline will be of great benefit for them to treat their problems and seek right treatment and also for their families.
Additional municipal commissioner, Manisha Mhaiskar said, “The helpline will be operated by certified clinical psychologists who have been trained to counsel people over the phone. It will also be linked to the police control room, so that immediate help can be sought in case of an emergency.”
Dr Shubhangi Parkar, head of psychiatry department at KEM Hospital, will be heading the project. The helpline’s toll free number will be finalised soon.
“We are also planning to concentrate on vulnerable categories — like patients at the TB hospital, victims of domestic violence, executives under stress and students writing their exams. For them, 24 seminars are being planned in the next year,” said Ms Mhaiskar.
The BMC had planned a “life is beautiful” helpline in 2010, but the project could not materialise due to various administrative reasons.

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