Dr. Athokpam Ranita stresses the efficacy of Day Care Centers in tackling mental illness

Dr. Athokpam Ranita, the State Nodal Officer of the National Mental Health Programme under the National Health Mission in Manipur, emphasised the critical need to advocate for the establishment of day care centres dedicated to mental health treatment, stressing that this imperative arises particularly in the context of Manipur, where there is a notable prevalence of mental health issues.
She conveyed the message at the one-day awareness program inaugurating the Day Care Centre for Severe Mentally Ill Persons held today. The event was organized by the Centre for Women Development, located in Keishamthong Elangbam Leikai, Imphal West district, in collaboration with the National Mental Health Programme under the National Health Mission.
In her role as one of the presidium members, Ranita addressed the gathering and highlighted that the concept of day care mental health treatment is relatively new to the state, and even in India, it is not as established as in advanced countries. Given the high disease burden of mental illness in Manipur, she emphasized that the promotion of day care centers for mental health is the need of the hour.
Ranita elaborated on the concept, stating that day care goes beyond outpatient services but is less intensive than a full-fledged hospital. Therefore, she advocated for the establishment of more day care treatment facilities for mental health, as it could contribute significantly to the reduction of mental illness cases. Her words also served as encouragement to those involved in running day care centers for mental health treatment.
Continuing her address, Ranita underscored the acute shortage of manpower hindering the effective implementation of the National Mental Health Programme. Despite these challenges, she emphasized that the program is being executed in all districts of Manipur through concerted efforts.
Highlighting the significant impact of the ongoing conflict on the mental health of the state’s population, irrespective of age or gender, Ranita called for collective support. She urged people to extend assistance, foster a positive atmosphere, and contribute to developing a supportive environment during this critical period, in order to mitigate the prevalence of mental illness to some extent.
Tangjakhombi Yambem, a member of the Centre for Women Development, eloquently briefed about the operational structure of their forthcoming day care center, aptly named “Ray of Hope.” The event was graced by the presence of M Herojit, a clinical psychologist associated with the National Mental Programme under NHM Manipur, and Dr. H Ibemcha, a retired senior specialist in Public Health, both contributing as presidium members.