After years of delay and criticism, the state is finally set to have a comprehensive survey to find out the number of mentally-challenged persons in the state.
The door-to door survey will be undertaken by the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in phases across the state.
“The NRHM has sanctioned a sum of `1 crore and 5 lakh for the first phase of the survey. The survey is expected to give a boost to the mental health programmes in the state.
As of now, Kerala does not have any concrete data on the number of persons suffering from mental health issues in the state.
The estimate on the number of mentally ill persons are usually arrived at based on the figures of neighbouring states like Karnataka.
As such the new survey and the data will be of a great help in the formulation of new programmes for the state,” said Dr D Raju, state nodal officer for the National Mental Health Programme and secretary of the State Mental Health Authority.
The National Mental Health Authority had recommended a survey on mental illness in the state way back in 2005.
The state had also come under criticism from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its report in 2011 for its failure to conduct a survey on the extent of mental illness in the state.
In its first phase, the survey will be conducted in five districts, including Kollam Palakkad, Wayanad, Kasargod and Idukki.
The survey would be done through the Accredited Social Heath Activists (ASHAs), the grassroots level health workers under the NRHM.
“The ASHA workers will conduct a door-to-door survey in these five districts. They will be provided with questionnaires which will have to be filled by each member of the house.
Based on the answers we will be able to determine the prevalence of mental illness in the state. We will also conduct random sample surveys to ensure the accuracy of the data collection,” said Dr Raju.
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