Tamil Nadu to pilot perinatal mental healthcare initiative in Villupuram
The Thai Manam project will train medical officers and nurses to screen pregnant women for mental health issues like depression.
Tamil Nadu is set 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.
Village Health Nurses (VHNs) and medical officers will be trained to identify mental health problems, specifically depression, during antenatal and postnatal stages to ensure timely care.
The pilot will be conducted in four blocks of 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.