The mental health care across the world has always been a major accessibility and availability-related issue. The breakthrough seems to be very close, especially for Kashmir patients through the Tele MANAS at IMHANS Srinagar.
Tele MANAS is a pioneering telemedicine program built specifically for leveraging psychiatric services into underserviced regions across India, focusing on the remotest rural human settlements.
At present, video call consultations are bringing a revolution in mental health care service delivery at the IMHANS Srinagar branch.
A revolution has taken place in terms of healthcare delivery in the world and mental healthcare is not left out. Years ago, people with mental health issues had to face huge barriers to access specialist health care in remote areas, with traveling, lack of finances, and stigma over seeking mental health support among the major barriers to care. Video consultations, particularly in Kashmir, offer a panacea to the already existing problem.
Tele MANAS IMHANS Srinagar on call from the comfort of home.
This becomes especially important as it makes it dependent on remote areas where having human resources in mental health is always a trouble. The real-time video call allows for face-to-face consultation live. An evaluator would be in a position to give her an adequate assessment and treatment as they would require if she were in his physical presence, giving the advantage that she doesn’t have to commence a long-distance journey.
Telemedicine has great potential in the IMHANS setup, especially within Kashmir’s summer capital.
However, with that ease come hard efforts and things that cannot be forgotten. The digital divide must also be addressed, as millions of rural and remote parts still do not have Internet access. Furthermore, making information and patients feel safe through safeguarding and confidentiality would be paramount to any intervention’s success.
Besides, there must immediately be mechanisms, guidelines, and policies that create and protect confidentiality to allow for a properly structured follow-up for the quality of care to be offered in a virtual setting. Such consultations must entail patient assurance of equal or enhanced treatment as would be available in a traditional clinic setting.