Perinatal Tele-Counseling Cell launched at GSGDH

 

 

 

To take care of mental health of perinatal women, a Perinatal Tele-Counseling Cell launched in the Government Seth Govinnddas District Hospital (GSGDH) on the occasion of Mental Health Awareness Month under the National Mental Health Programme on Wednesday. Marking the occasion of Mental Health Awareness Month, the important initiative was taken as per the instructions of Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Sanjay Mishra. Tele-counselling cell for Perinatal Mental Health (PMH) was formally launched in presence of Civil Surgeon Dr Naveen Kothari and District Nodal Officer, Mental Health Program, Dr Ratnesh Kuraria. Senior Psychiatrist Dr Kuraria said that this tele-counselling cell will become a strong medium for those women of the district who have been identified on the basis of mental health symptoms during pregnancy and delivery.

 

The identified women will be contacted by the District Hospital team to take account of their current mental and physical condition and to provide medical guidance and counseling as per their needs. This initiative is a strong step towards providing quality mental health services to women at their homes. Dr Dolly Sangani (Programme Officer) and Vivekanand Tripathi (Programme Coordinator) from the partner organisation Jhpiego, participated in the programme. Psychiatrist Dr Vidyaratan Varkade, Clinical Psychologist, Saloni, Nursing Officer and other health workers from the District Mental Health Programme team were also present during the launch with the hope that this initiative will increase awareness in the society about perinatal mental health and mental health as an essential dimension in maternal health services.