Health ministry comes out with mental health care guide in times of Covid-19

NEW DELHI: The government has come out with "guidance for general medical and specialised mental health care settings" in the times of Covid-19. Prepared by the Bengaluru based National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences the detailed guidance document in a chapter for policy makers calls for ensuring that mental health is integrated into the broad framework of Covid-19 health care response to provide appropriate care to the many thousands who are psychologically disturbed following the pandemic.
“Helplines are lifelines in such situations. A good control room with ready answers for FAQs is a must for running such helplines,” it is stated in the guidance document which addresses a wide range of concerns related to mental health management of Covid patients in hospitals, isolation and quarantine to problems like stigma, state of those suffering from drug addiction related disorders, domestic violence, suicidal tendencies, the impact of the pandemic on vulnerable groups like pregnant women and the effects of burnout on frontline health workers.
It is recommended that there should be counselling facilities for Covid-19 patients admitted in a hospital. “The tele-psychiatry platform may be considered appropriate as this will reduce the risk of contracting infection for health care personnel and prevent wastage of valuable personal protection equipment,” it is recommended. The detailed guide emphasises that “understanding the mental health needs of people in hospital quarantine is important as it is likely that many are likely to develop psychological issues that need early intervention.”
In a chapter on Covid patients in ICU it is stated that medical professionals should be aware of common psychiatric and behavioural manifestations of patients with Covid-19 in intensive care settings. “Addressing these with simple pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches is not only effective but also helps in reducing mortality and later morbidity,” it is stated.
The NIMHANS guide also cautions about suicide risk of not just those exposed to Covid-19 pandemic but also the frontline personnel. “Frontline personnel experiencing burnouts, health anxiety, pre-existing mental health and addiction issues are also likely to have a heightened suicide risk. It is necessary to ensure early mental health assessment and interventions if they exhibit any early 'warning signs'." The guidance details how frontline personnel can assess those at risk for suicide, determine their risk level and provide appropriate management.