Bengaluru :
A quiet room where adolescents can meditate; an activity room for theatre, life skill activities, music and films; individual therapy rooms and high intensity wards. These are features of the 24-bed Adolescent Psychiatry Centre (APC) coming up at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Science (Nimhans). When the APC is ready by this month-end, it will be the first adolescent in-patient psychiatry facility in the country.
The APC will cater to the special needs of adolescents (16 to 18 years) with psychotic, substance-use and severe conduct disorders; those who have experienced physical, emotional and sexual abuse; youngsters prone to aggression and violence and those who come for care through the Juvenile Justice Act.
Dr Shekhar P Seshadri, head of the child and adolescent psychiatry department who will be in-charge of the new ward, said they decided to set up the special wing following an increase in number of adolescents coming to Nimhans for therapy. “Adolescents require a separate set-up – different from younger children at one end and adults on the other – as they undergo a transitional period of mental and health development. Their needs are different in terms of privacy, freedom, space for their indoor and outdoor activities, intervention and nature of problems encountered,” he said.
“They require specific interventions such as pharmacotherapy, intensive psychotherapy, group intervention, social skills training, and family-focused intervention and special educational inputs which call for a separate facility in order to make them feel at home within a special comfort zone,” he added.
Adolescents will be admitted for at least two weeks. The period may go beyond three months depending on the nature of their problems and the intervention required. They will be able to have one or two caregivers, usually parents.
“Evaluation and treatment will be provided by multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and psychiatric social workers. The APC can serve as a model for developing much needed facilities for adolescents in other parts of our country,” said Dr Seshadri.
Dr BN Gangadhar, director of Nimhans, said: “The three-storey building opposite to the children psychiatry department is almost ready to operate. We are waiting for a few pieces of furniture and equipment and by the end of April we will call for the inauguration.”
Key features:
· Quiet room where adolescents can have calm space and practice relaxation techniques
· Activity room-cum-library to encourage them to take part in theatre, music, life skill activities, watch films and read books.
· Indoor and outdoor play areas
· Individual therapy rooms for psychotherapeutic interventions
· Group therapy rooms for team activities and discussions
· High intensity wards for adolescents with suicidal risk and severe depression.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Bangalore / by Sreemoyee Chatterjee / TNN / April 08th, 2016