NIMHANS and DIA signed a MoU to collaborate on dementia care with an aim to improve the quality of life for persons with dementia and their caregivers. They will work together on advocacy, outreach, training, research, and support services. The MoU includes activities like support groups, information dissemination, research initiatives, education programs, and conferences.
According to Bengaluru-based NIMHANS, a premier institute for mental health and neuroscience in India, the collaboration aims to improve the overall quality of life of persons with dementia and their family caregivers through various modalities, they said.
The vision of NAMAN is to implement a comprehensive taluka-level mental health programme that incorporates mental health promotion, preventive strategies, treatment of mental disorders, and rehabilitation.
According to official data, there has been a consistent decline in the noise levels in these areas over the last couple of months. While the decibel (dB) levels are still above permissible limits, Bengaluru’s silent zones are much quieter. While NIMHANS recorded a monthly average noise level of 55 dB during the day and 55.7 dB at night, on Mysore Road, it was 60.4 dB during the day and 56.9 dB at night.
As of now, the programme is being implemented in Munsiyari taluk of Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand and Belur taluk of Hassan district of Karnataka to cater the mental health needs of the whole population of the two taluks. This will also help them to test the feasibility of rolling out such a programme across the country, they said.