NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, INDIA Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS), Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP), Ranchi and Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health (LGBRIMH), Tezpur to provide online training courses to medical and paramedical professionals in the country. The Academy is working on the Hub and Spoke Model wherein NIMHANS will provide technical and academic assistance to the two Institutes as well as to other Institutes joining the Academy in future. 6.8 Shri Luv Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare also enumerated some of the progressive features of the Act such as advance directive, nominated representative, and special clauses for women and children related to admission, treatment, sanitation and personal hygiene, restriction on use of Electro-convulsive Therapy and Psychosurgery. Decriminalization of suicide is another significant facet of the Act, which will ensure proper management of severe stress as a precursor for suicide attempts. 6.9 Many key recommendations emanated from the daylong intensive deliberations of the meeting, such as, there is a huge treatment gap i.e., 70-75% for severe mental disorders (NMHS, 2016). It is suggested that mental health programmes must be developed along a developmental continuum moving from a unitary adult-centric approach to an approach which caters to different needs of children, women, elderly, homeless mentally ill etc. In order to achieve this, inter-sectoral participation beyond the health sector (social welfare, education, labor, etc.) focusing on rehabilitation, re-integration of the victims in society is required. Further, AYUSH services need to be integrated in the conventional medical services and thus leading to formation of an inter-sectoral working group which would encourage the flow of knowledge and experience among different domain experts in treating patients effectively. It was strongly emphasized by the Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, that mental health issues may be taken up in the Gram Sabha meetings in order to understand mental health issues at this level. This would further help in generating awareness and reducing the stigma associated with mental health. 6.10 After intensive deliberations, the following key recommendations/suggestions emanated from the review meeting: 90 i. Inter-Sectoral participation: There is a huge treatment gap i.e., 70-75.5% for severe mental disorders (NMHS, 2016). It is suggested that mental health programmes must be developed along a developmental continuum moving from a unitary adult-centric approach to an approach which caters to different needs of children, women, elderly, homeless mentally ill etc. In order to achieve this, Inter-Sectoral participation beyond the health sector (Social Welfare, Education, Labor) focusing on rehabilitation, re-integration of the victims in society is required. ii. Integration of AYUSH services in the conventional medical services: Considering that there are various diploma courses available on Mental Health, the AYUSH doctors should also be given the opportunity and eligibility status to pursue such courses/specializations. ANNUAL REPORT 2019-20