Question

-Importance of psychiatric services

-Psychiatric services available in Nepal

Answer 1

Importance of Psychiatric services

Psychiatry is a branch of Medicine that diagnoses, treats and studies Mental illness and behavioural conditions. Psychiatric services are the health services that aim to promote mental health, prevent mental illness and treat the mentally ill people. Psychiatric services also known as Mental health services. For healthy a society and a nation, the Government has to deliver not only quality general medical services, but also Mental health or Psychiatric services to the population. Health implies a condition that focus well-being of both physical and mental or psychological realm.  

Statistical reports show that for U.S $193 billion amount losts annually from the earnings due to mental illness. One in Five Americans are suffering with some form of Mental illness ( NAMI: National Alliance of Mental illness). 20 million Americans are addicted to substance abuse. One of the main cause of 'drop out ' from high school among children is due to Mental illness ( 37%).

Psychiatric services in a society  at the level of individual, family and community help to;

* lower sucide rate among students and adults

* lower health costs

* prevent chronic mental illness

* Helps in early detection and treatment of depression and other mental illness

* Interventions against substance abuse, stress and anxiety, reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as hypertension and liver and heart diseases.

* Crisis intervention services helps the victims and other people in crisis to overcome it.

* Saves the life of people, remove the hopelessness ( counselling services greatly help the people to be strengthen and face the life with courage)

Psychiatric services available in Nepal

Nepal is a country with an approximate population of 26 million people, consists of indegenous Nepalese, Tibeto- Nepalese and Indo- Nepalese ethnic groups. There is no separate health legislation for Mental health sector; Ministry of health is controlling the programmes and policies related to Mental health services or the Psychiatric services.

In 1997 , Nepal adapted Mental health policy, but yet to begin it. A very minimum amount in budget is kept apart for Mental health services every year. Psychiatric hospitals and services are largely situated in urban cities. In the whole state , Only 440 beds are there for in-patient , who suffer with Mental illness and 18 out- patient facilities for Mental patients .   No services or centers are available for children, who are in need of Psychiatric services. Several Challenges are existing in Nepal to implement a District level Mental health Care Plan ( MHCP). The main challenges related to Psychiatric services in Nepal are:

* less number of Psychiatrists and Psychologists

( 0.22 and 0.06 per 100,000 population respectively)

* Inadequate availability of Psychotropic drugs

* Overloaded health workers

* lack of well organised Ministry ( health and population)

* lack psychiatric services supervision in the Government and District level.