National Mental Health Survey of India 2015-16

NMHS
oped as a Public Health Observatory for mental,
neurological and substance use disorders,
injuries and other NCDs. The observatory
serves as a platform for generating evidence
based support for macro and micro level
analysis through in-depth examination of the
dynamics of health system functioning to improve
and enhance quality care.
Assessment in Kolar district
tested with data available from the Kolar
Public Health Observatory. The draft version
of the instrument was reviewed with the
district level officials, minor modifications
were made in the flow of the questions,
and structured responses were developed.
This assessment has formed the basis for
programme implementation and monitoring
of mental health activities in the district (41).
Assessment in the state of
Tamil Nadu
During the year 2013, a situation analysis
was undertaken with the recognition that
the health systems approach is a better
public health strategy to improve services
for mental health care. With the goal of
assessing mental health systems, the WHO
AIMS instrument was identified, modified
and adapted to gather relevant and adequate
information at the district level.
Series of discussions were held with the
Mental Health Programme Officer at the
state and district levels. This resulted in the
listing of a minimum set of data/ information
that would be readily available and matched
with the list of data elements / information
points that would achieve the objectives of
the Mental Health Systems Assessment.
Based on this, a comprehensive instrument
for assessing the District Mental Health
Systems Assessment was developed and field
The district level assessment methodology
was adopted and implemented in the State
of Tamil Nadu in 2014 based on the request
of the Nodal Officer of the Mental Health
Programme. The District Mental Health
Systems Assessment proforma which was
pilot tested in the District of Kolar, Karnataka
was reviewed and found appropriate to
assess the mental health systems in the
State of Tamil Nadu. It was decided that
the strategy for collation of the district level
proforma was better suited for a review of
the state mental health systems.
At the time of review, in Tamil Nadu 16 out
of 32 districts had the Central Government
supported District Mental Health
Programme. The objective of the activity was
identified to be two-fold: firstly, review of
the status of implementation of the Mental
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SMHSA