<p>The Meghalaya cabinet has approved a policy aimed at addressing issues of mental health and social care through collaborative engagement with communities, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said.</p>.<p>Meghalaya is the third state in the country to have introduced such a policy, paying attention to issues of mental health, especially among children, adolescents and youth, he said.</p>.<p>Officials said that the new policy seeks to address the social determinants of mental ill-health and ensure cultural security with collaborative engagement with the communities it intends to serve.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/city/mental-disorders-rampant-among-pg-residents-study-1165169.html" target="_blank">Mental disorders rampant among PG residents: Study</a></strong></p>.<p>It also aims to promote overall mental health and wellbeing and facilitate appropriate access and care pathways for common and severe mental health concerns, with focus on person-centred care.</p>.<p>Health Minister James PK Sangma stated that the policy was culturally-rooted in the state, and looks to address the stigma linked with mental health.</p>.<p>"It is a community-centric initiative and will improve recognition, rehabilitation and reformation, necessary for creating awareness and building support systems," he explained.</p>.<p>Sangma noted that the Covid-19 pandemic had highlighted the need to devise an inclusive and robust institutional response, especially for vulnerable groups.</p>.<p>Kerala and Karnataka are the other two states in the country to have such policies.</p>.<p>In 2014, the Centre launched the first-ever National Mental Health Policy in an attempt to provide universal psychiatry care.</p>.<p>On World Mental Health Day, the Meghalaya government had announced that the state would soon have a mental health policy.</p>.<p>Accordingly, feedback from the civil society members was received and those were incorporated into the draft policy, after which it was placed before the cabinet, a senior health official told <em>PTI</em>.</p>.<p>The policy will be implemented through the convergence of different departments, while strengthening human resources and community institutions, including financial support and infrastructure, he added. </p>
<p>The Meghalaya cabinet has approved a policy aimed at addressing issues of mental health and social care through collaborative engagement with communities, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said.</p>.<p>Meghalaya is the third state in the country to have introduced such a policy, paying attention to issues of mental health, especially among children, adolescents and youth, he said.</p>.<p>Officials said that the new policy seeks to address the social determinants of mental ill-health and ensure cultural security with collaborative engagement with the communities it intends to serve.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/city/mental-disorders-rampant-among-pg-residents-study-1165169.html" target="_blank">Mental disorders rampant among PG residents: Study</a></strong></p>.<p>It also aims to promote overall mental health and wellbeing and facilitate appropriate access and care pathways for common and severe mental health concerns, with focus on person-centred care.</p>.<p>Health Minister James PK Sangma stated that the policy was culturally-rooted in the state, and looks to address the stigma linked with mental health.</p>.<p>"It is a community-centric initiative and will improve recognition, rehabilitation and reformation, necessary for creating awareness and building support systems," he explained.</p>.<p>Sangma noted that the Covid-19 pandemic had highlighted the need to devise an inclusive and robust institutional response, especially for vulnerable groups.</p>.<p>Kerala and Karnataka are the other two states in the country to have such policies.</p>.<p>In 2014, the Centre launched the first-ever National Mental Health Policy in an attempt to provide universal psychiatry care.</p>.<p>On World Mental Health Day, the Meghalaya government had announced that the state would soon have a mental health policy.</p>.<p>Accordingly, feedback from the civil society members was received and those were incorporated into the draft policy, after which it was placed before the cabinet, a senior health official told <em>PTI</em>.</p>.<p>The policy will be implemented through the convergence of different departments, while strengthening human resources and community institutions, including financial support and infrastructure, he added. </p>