George Institute for Global Health to implement mental health initiatives in Telangana

Australian High Commissioner announces DAP Grant to The George Institute for Global Health, India

The Australian High Commissioner to India, Barry O’Farrell, and the Consul General – Chennai, Sarah Kirlew announced the Direct Aid Program (DAP) Grant to The George Institute for Global Health India at TGI India’s office in Hyderabad on 10th May 2023. Total budget of the program is Rs 18,90,960. Grant asked by The George Institute for Global Health, India from DAP and approved is Rs 9,90,960.

The project, ‘Strengthening Mental Health Systems through Action at District Level’, aims to build capacities of select DMHP team in and around Hyderabad to use systems thinking approaches and tools to identify and address bottlenecks. The George Institute for Global Health, India, will directly implement the Mental Health project in collaboration with key stakeholders.

Weak Mental Health (MH) Systems and processes are important contributors to service-gaps. Successful implementation of the DMHP is crucial for managing the large burden of Mental Morbidities in the country. ‍Several evaluations and expert committee reports have found a need for improved governance, monitoring and evaluation, and research to strengthen MH services.

While announcing the DAP grant to The George Institute, India, The Australian High Commissioner to India said, “I am pleased that we are able to support this important work through the Direct Aid Program administered by the Australian Consulate General for South India. Australia-Telangana collaboration and mutual learning to improve mental health care services will deliver benefits for best practice understanding in both countries.”

Professor Vivekanand Jha, the executive director of The George Institute, India said, “The George Institute is working through a range of projects to generate actionable evidence to support the identification and management of mental health conditions and looks forward to working with the local governments and other stakeholders. We are pleased that this work has been further enabled by the Direct Aid Program of the Australian High Commission to India, which reiterates the high level of engagement between the two countries in this key area.”

Dr Ankita Mukherjee who will lead this from the Institute said, “This project will help identify some of the barriers in implementing the District Mental Health Programme and work with key stakeholders to facilitate the process using a health systems approach. I am very glad that the Australian High Commission is supporting this very important area of work through its Direct Aid Programme”.

The key objectives and activities under this program include:

• Understand mental health service availability, service gaps and challenges in implementation of DMHP in one district of Telangana: DMHP and state mental health program guidelines will be reviewed to list key program activities and gaps.
• Building capacity in core concepts of systems thinking and application of systems thinking tools for collective problem identification and problem-solving: Workshops with select district-level teams in and around Hyderabad, for building capacity in core concepts of systems-thinking.
• Feedback and evaluation: A competency & feedback tool will be administered at the start and end of each workshop