TO HELP their students to overcome depression and maintain mental health, Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) will have their dedicated cell with two qualified counsellors. It will be run under ‘Chhatramanas Yojana’ introduced by Maharashtra Government.The scheme aims to strengthen mental health of students of GMCs. Under the scheme, every government medical college will have a dedicated cell with two counsellors, along with a state-level committee, to chalk out annual plans of various initiatives to be taken under the scheme. Vice-Chancellor of Maharashtra University of Health Science (MUHS) Lt Gen Dr Madhuri Kanitkar was the first to raise the concern about this issue. Welcoming this move, Dr Abhishek Somani, Head, Department of Psychiatry, Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH) said,“This is a much needed development that finally came to fruition. The concept of counsellor in medical colleges is not new but a dedicated cell is very important. The cell will not only look after mental ailments of the studentsbut will try to strengthen their mental health.”

 

According to the plan, a State-level committee headed by Professor (Psychology) will be formed with an Associate Professor (Psychology) as member and Social Service Superintendent as MemberSecretary. This committee will review the scheme and will alsoevaluate. Accordingly, it will prepare a plan. Dr Sushil Gawande, Professor of Psychiatry withNKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences, had started‘Anubandh’, an activity of mentorship and guardianship. Anubandh provides interactiveforum to the students to makethem open up. In Chhatramanas Scheme, Government has planned various activities including setting up of a helpline number, inviting people to deliver lecture, along with increasing interaction between studentsand teachers. Dr Nikhil Pande, ex President of Psychiatry Societyof Nagpur explained,“In today’sbusy, digital age and increasing competition, human life isaffected on a daily basis, physically as well as mentally. Medicos usually don’t realise several mental ailments. This cell will surely help them to maintain their mental health. Bad mental health leads to serious issues like depression, suicidal thoughts.”