The Meghalaya cabinet has approved a policy aimed at addressing issues of mental health and social care through collaborative engagement with communities, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said. Meghalaya is the third state in the country to have introduced such a policy, paying attention to issues of mental health, especially among children, adolescents and youth, he said.
The new policy seeks to address the social determinants of mental ill-health and ensure cultural security with collaborative engagement with the communities it intends to serve. It also aims to promote overall mental health and wellbeing and facilitate appropriate access and care pathways for common and severe mental health concerns, with focus on person-centred care.
On World Mental Health Day, the Meghalaya government had announced that the state would soon have a mental health policy. Accordingly, feedback from the civil society members was received and those were incorporated into the draft policy, after which it was placed before the cabinet, a senior health official told PTI.
The policy will be implemented through the convergence of different departments, while strengthening human resources and community institutions, including financial support and infrastructure, he added.