PUDUKKOTTAI: In Pudukkottai district, Psychiatry Outpatient clinic is available in 13 Government hospitals and four primary health centres (PHC) since 2017 which is one of the highest numbers of mental health outpatient clinics for any district across the country, according to Dr R. Karthik Deivanayagam, district mental health officer (MHO), Pudukkottai.
Dr Karthik Deivanayagam, recipient of the State Government's best-performing Doctor Award- 2019' told DC that he was thankful to the Chief Minister, Edappadi K Palaniswami and Health minister, C. Vijayabaskar, for the institution of a separate award under a special category for mental health programme from this year.
He said additionally district mental health counseling centre is functional at Pudukkottai which mainly caters to the needs of persons requiring counseling and disability certificates. The counseling centre also acts as a training centre for departmental staffs, teachers, and the public, he added.
Recently they observed a special day for mental health "Mental Health Thursday" as a pilot project in Pudukkottai. As many as 32 persons with mental illness had been rescued with the support of the police and rehabilitated by the Health department, he added.
In Pudukkottai, mentally ill pregnant mothers who do not have family support are provided comprehensive medical care and psychosocial support, including adoption services, he said.
Dr Deivanayagam said the success of the program lay on inter-departmental coordination, support, and involvement of all Government Officers, especially Pudukkottai Collector Ms B. Umamaheswari, and district joint director of Health, Dr M. Chandrasekaran.
