Chandigarh administration sets up halfway home for mentally ill
Chandigarh, December 11
The UT Administration has set up a halfway home (HWH) for mentally ill persons at the Disability Assessment Rehabilitation and Triage (DART) building in Sector 32 here in accordance with the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017.
The facilities
In addition to basic facilities such as shelter and food, all residents of the halfway home are provided residential psychosocial rehabilitation process involving pharmacotherapy, activities of daily living, social skills training, counselling, cognitive enhancement therapy and vocational training.
Halfway homes are part of a multi-pronged process to help patients with mental illness make a smooth transition from hospitals into the patient’s home.
The facility is availed by persons with mental illness who have recovered from an acute phase of illness and can avail of its services for six to 18 months, which may exceed depending on his/her recovery and psychosocial circumstances. It is the next step after the hospitalisation phase is over and when the patient has stabilised on medication.
The halfway home is being run by the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, under the administrative control of Mental Health Institute and admissions are routed through the GMCH-32.
In addition to basic facilities such as shelter and food, all residents of the halfway home are provided residential psychosocial rehabilitation process involving pharmacotherapy, activities of daily living, social skills training, counselling, cognitive enhancement therapy and vocational training.
Some hobby classes for residents based on their individual interest such as dance and arts and crafts classes are also organised to improve their quality of life.
Initially, the halfway home was started for male patients only. On the directions of UT Adviser Manoj Parida, the facility has also been extended to women. The capacity of the institute has been enhanced to 10 beds in order to provide effective services to the mentally ill/challenged persons of the UT.
The residents are provided a safe, secure, non-stigmatising and socially inclusive environment to flourish that helps in building their self-esteem. The halfway home strives for mainstreaming of mentally ill persons in order to restore their rights and dignity. — TNS
