Tamil Nadu to pilot perinatal mental healthcare project in Villupuram
The Thai Manam project will train medical officers and nurses to screen pregnant women for depression during antenatal and postnatal periods.
Tamil Nadu is preparing to launch a pilot project to improve mental healthcare for women during the perinatal period, according to The Hindu.
The initiative, named the Thai Manam project, aims to provide mental health screening at the primary healthcare level.
Under this programme, medical officers and Village Health Nurses (VHNs) will be trained to identify mental health issues, specifically depression, in pregnant women during antenatal and postnatal stages.
The pilot will be conducted in four blocks of the Villupuram district, namely Kanai, Koliyanur, Vallam, and Mugaiyur.
This collaborative effort involves the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Epidemiology, and the Directorate of Public Health (DPH) and Preventive Medicine.
The training for VHNs and medical officers is currently underway to ensure women receive timely and appropriate care.