Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) recently saw the inauguration of two landmark initiatives by Health Minister Ma. Subramanian on Sunday: The Mental Health Counselling Unit (MNCU) Art Centre and the Emergency Care and Recovery Centre (ECRC). These additions represent a significant enhancement to mental health services in the region.
The MNCU is built at a cost of 86 lakhs Rs. and has 10 beds for mothers with multiple health facilities for the newborn. This will ensure that the postnatal mothers receive treatment with the newborn without being separated. The ART centre is built at a cost of 16.3 lakh Rs, which will help people from underprivileged sections of society who want to undergo IVF treatment.
The newly opened MNCU Art Centre aims to foster therapy through creative exploration. Tailored for patients struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges, the centre provides:
Daily art therapy sessions facilitated by trained therapists.
Workshops in painting, sketching, clay modeling, and other creative forms.
Opportunities for patients to showcase their work during hospital-hosted mini exhibitions and events.
This therapeutic environment empowers patients and enhances self-expression, aligning with global research that underscores art therapy’s effectiveness in reducing anxiety and promoting recovery.
Alongside the Art Centre, CMCH has launched a 15-bed Emergency Care and Recovery Centre. Functioning under the National Health Mission’s Mental Health Programme, the ECRC offers:
Temporary shelter and comprehensive medical and psychiatric care.
Counselling services, incorporating physical wellbeing support.
A partnership with NGO Helping Hearts to facilitate rescue, rehabilitation, and long-term recovery, particularly for homeless individuals with mental illness.
ECRCs have been functional since 2018 across Tamil Nadu, and the Coimbatore centre marks the city’s first for men—complementing the existing women-only centre in Mettupalayam. Since inception, ECRCs in 17 districts have served over 4,000 individuals.
These openings align with Tamil Nadu’s 2019 Mental Health Care Policy, which advocates a continuum of care—rescue, acute intervention, intermediary placement, long-term accommodation, and social reintegration.
CMCH Dean Dr. A. Nirmala highlighted that the ECRC fills a vital gap in gender-specific services and reinforces the hospital’s expanding mental health infrastructure.
MNCU Art Centre:
• Promotes mental wellness
• Psychological resilience
• Self-esteem and coping skills
ECRC:
• Safe haven for destitute mentally ill
• Immediate medical and counseling support
• Structured rehabilitation pathways
These initiatives reflect CMCH’s growing commitment to holistic mental health care—combining creativity, compassion, and structured support to improve outcomes for vulnerable populations.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Sakshi Thakar/MSM)