By IANS,
New Delhi : India will be giving high priority to child mental healthcare with the Planning Commission earmarking Rs.10 billion for the National Mental Health Programme, the Rajya Sabha was informed Friday.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said the Planning Commission has agreed to accord priority to child mental healthcare in the 11th Five Year Plan.
He said the allocation for National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) in the 11th Five Year Plan is Rs.10 billion.
“The government has proposed to re-strategise NMHP during the 11th Five Year Plan to extend the district mental health programme to more districts in the country which will address the basic issues and services related to child and adolescent mental healthcare”, Ramadoss said.
The issues that would be covered under the scheme would be life skill training in schools, counselling services in schools and colleges, early detection and treatment of child and adolescent mental health problems.
In addition, mental health problems of out of school children and adolescents are proposed to be addressed in collaboration with NGOs and in public-private partnership.