1. Christian medical college: Mental Health in india
Vellore, India
Molly Meagher, KUSON N4

2. Christian Medical College
Located in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
One of most respected medical destinations in India
Founded in 1900 by American missionary, Dr. Ida S. Scudder
Private, not-for-profit
2,858 beds - private and general
Around 2,600 nurses employed

3. Psych Clinical Objectives
Compare the psychiatric patient populations seen at CMC and the University of Kansas Hospital
Understand how nurses play a role in patient wellness at the CMC psychiatric hospital
Investigate what patient care techniques CMC utilizes and why
*Front of CMC main hospital campus

4. CMC Mental Health Center
* Patient art and outdoor area of long term stay
Located on Bagayam Campus
Open, nonrestrictive site
Only psychiatric hospital in India
125 beds - four units, onsite OT
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
Internationally known
Bangladesh and Nepal frequently come
Families travel great lengths to receive care here
Staffing: 6 nurse managers, 3 charge nurses, 36 staff nurses

5. Psychiatric Hospital Patient Admissions
Patient required to be admitted with family
Live together during entire stay
Better outcomes
Educate about illness and needs
Help track progress
Inpatient typically stay four to six weeks
Personal living quarters
Cook own food
Independently participate in activities
No patient uniforms
Decrease stigma
*Rangoli – images made on door steps that bring good luck into the home

6. CMC Psychiatric Units Acute Care Annex Private and General
12 beds
Immediate crisis
Annex
26 beds
Long term stay
Private and General
23 beds/ 40 beds
Living arrangements based on income
Child and Adolescent
24 beds
Nambikkai Nilayam – “to give hope to parents”
*Me with Shanti Johnson, a nurse manager at CMC psych hospital

7. CMC Psychiatric Care Strategies
Conditions Treated
Community Programs
Anxiety
OCD
Depression
ADHD
Substance abuse
Autism
Relationship problems
Down’s Syndrome
Eating disorders
Emotional distress
Bipolar disorder
Schizophrenia
Psychosis
Group Therapy
Alcoholics Anonymous
Individual Therapy
Parents with Schizophrenic Children Club
Occupational Therapy
Parent/Child Classes
Therapeutic Activities
Various resources to cope and be successful
Work Opportunities
Rounding
Grand rounds
Twice weekly
Psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, clinical psychologists, OT and PT
Weekly Conferences
Review chart, give report
Discuss goals and progress

8. India’s Psychiatric Care Strategies
Individual
Government
People tend to consult temples and faith healers, not doctors
Strong stigma against mental illness
Personal and family image stained
Family dynamics hindered when one member is missing
Affects person’s marketability for marriage
Some organizations attempting to combine spiritual healers and medicine to compromise
Only 5,000 psychiatrists in country
Some regional government hospitals offer treatment
Supreme court outlawed mechanical restraints, though chains used
Government doesn’t consider mental illness priority
Lack of money, resources, and knowledge

9. Conclusions Patient population at CMC very similar to TUKH
Less substance abuse
Alcohol not used socially
Benzo addiction more common
Nurses vital to patient progress, organizing therapeutic activities, providing medications
Will not be discharged until nurse OKs
Nursing students required to have clinical at psychiatric hospital
Only evidence based practices in treatment of psychiatric patients
Family required to stay with patient
Parent class for developmentally disabled children
Group therapy and support programs
*Me and CMC nursing student interviewing local villager

10. Most Profound Experience
Professionally: Parent class for developmentally delayed children
Two month course
Educating and managing children with Autism, Down’s Syndrome, CP
Games and Activities
Sensory– lights, sounds, textured objects
Mentally Stimulating– object permanence, puzzles
Positive reward only
Food, class applause, parent love
Acting out - child removed from current task to exert physical energy on jungle gym
*Children at the Balwadie, a village preschool

11. Most Profound Experience cont.
Culturally: Becoming friends with Indians and immersing in the culture
Village of Melminnal
Worked with for community health promotion
Villagers treated us as family and invited us in for coffee and snacks
One lady said we must move into her home and live with her forever!
CMC Staff
Became close friends with various nursing students and staff
Took us shopping, cooked dinners for us, went with us on weekend trips
Helped tie our sarees and explained customs
*KU nursing students with CMC nursing students

12. References
PBS Newshour. (September, 2014). Treating mental illness with medicine and religion in India. Retrieved from: mental-illness-medicine-religion-india/
Kennedy, M. (August, 2010) In India, Stimga of Mental Illness Hinders Treatment. Retrieved from:

13. धन्यवाद !!
(Thank you!!)