Hyderabad: HHF in collaboration launches community-level mental health and dementia clinic

The mental health services that are available include preliminary neuropsychological assessment to evaluate cognitive impairment and later depending in the results, a detailed cognitive evaluation

Hyderabad: In a unique initiative, a community-level mental health and dementia clinic, which will cater to the urban poor at Rajendranagar and Pahadi Shariff, has been launched by Helping Hand Foundation (HHF), the noted voluntary organization in the field of healthcare.

The facilities , launched by HHF in collaboration with Asha Charitable Trust, and the Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India (ARDSI) Hyderabad Deccan Chapter, aims to address the mental health needs of economically weaker sections, where awareness of dementia and mental health is low.

This is for the first time that mental health and dementia screenings are being conducted at primary care level in health care facilities run by HHF. The clinic’s team functions under Dr. Chandrasekhar K., geriatric psychiatrist, MD, Asha Hospital, and president of ARDSI Hyderabad Deccan Chapter, along with senior care givers.

The mental health services that are available include preliminary neuropsychological assessment to evaluate cognitive impairment and later depending in the results, a detailed cognitive evaluation.

The assessment tools have been validated for the Indian context by an expert team at NIMHANS.

Following a clinical diagnosis, persons with dementia will be managed using a three-pronged approach including medication, functional rehabilitation and cognitive stimulation therapy.