Australian High Commissioner grants funds for mental health programme in TS

HYDERABAD: Supporting the initiative of the district medical health programme (DMPH) in the state, the Australian High Commissioner to India, Barry O’Farrell, announced a Direct Aid Programme with funds of 18k AUD for the cause.

The project ‘Strengthening Mental Health Systems through Action at District Level’ undertaken by the George Institute for Global Health (TGI), India, will be working with the state government with the focus on building capacities of DMPH teams at district levels. The initiatives aim at enhancing the district's mental health facilities by identifying the gaps in the facilities for mental health care and further facilitating the health care facilities in terms of awareness, counseling and medication.

While announcing the aid for the programme, the Australian High Commissioner to India stressed on the importance of awareness in mental health and said that it was through collective and systematic efforts that challenge in mental health could be mitigated.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Dr Praveen Devarsetty, program director of Better Care at TGI India, said, “The initiative is about strengthening the mental health programme at the district level. We will be working with one district to start with, and then expand to other districts statewide, based on the model that will be created in the first district”.

Sarah Kirlew Australian Consul-General to South India made the announcement of the funds for the organization. Mr. Amit Khanna, Director of Finance and Operations at TGI, and other representatives were present at the event.