<p>Bengaluru: In a move to revamp adolescent healthcare and mental health support, the state government has announced the establishment of Samagra Samalochana Kendra (SSK).</p>.<p>These integrated counselling centres will streamline services across all government health facilities, from district hospitals to community health centres.</p>.<p>According to a government order issued on Wednesday, the state aims to strengthen the existing Sneha Centres, the state chapter of the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK). Currently, adolescent health services face gaps, with 14 districts lacking dedicated Sneha clinics and several others struggling with a shortage of trained counsellors.</p>.<p><strong>The integrated model</strong></p>.<p>Under the new SSK framework, the government will move away from programme-specific structure. Previously, counsellors were restricted to specific areas such as Mental Health, HIV/AIDS (KSAPS), or Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD). Now, all counsellors under the National Health Mission (NHM) will function as integrated counsellors, providing holistic support to any patient regardless of the specific health programme they fall under.</p>.'Gruha Arogya' in urban areas: Mysuru DHO stresses on completing door-to-door survey.<p>To ensure privacy, health facilities will designate specific units where beneficiaries can seek one-on-one guidance. The National Health Mission is also set to develop digital tools and learning resources to support these integrated staff members.</p>.<p><strong>Focus on schools and outreach</strong></p>.<p>A significant portion of the order focuses on adolescents (aged 10-19). The Health department will collaborate with the Education department to align RKSK activities with school structures. Existing “School Health Ambassadors” will now serve as nodal teachers for adolescent wellness.</p>.<p>The government has mandated a special OPD day on the 13th of every month. On this day, specialists, including pediatricians, psychiatrists, and orthopedicians, will provide consultations for high-need children identified through school screenings.</p>.<p>To ensure accountability, the state has created a new post of Assistant Deputy Director to monitor RKSK activities. This move is expected to improve outcomes in critical areas, including the prevention of teenage pregnancies and improving the nutritional status of the state’s youth. The Health department will also consolidate various resource materials into a single online self-learning module, accessible to both counsellors and students across Karnataka.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: In a move to revamp adolescent healthcare and mental health support, the state government has announced the establishment of Samagra Samalochana Kendra (SSK).</p>.<p>These integrated counselling centres will streamline services across all government health facilities, from district hospitals to community health centres.</p>.<p>According to a government order issued on Wednesday, the state aims to strengthen the existing Sneha Centres, the state chapter of the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK). Currently, adolescent health services face gaps, with 14 districts lacking dedicated Sneha clinics and several others struggling with a shortage of trained counsellors.</p>.<p><strong>The integrated model</strong></p>.<p>Under the new SSK framework, the government will move away from programme-specific structure. Previously, counsellors were restricted to specific areas such as Mental Health, HIV/AIDS (KSAPS), or Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD). Now, all counsellors under the National Health Mission (NHM) will function as integrated counsellors, providing holistic support to any patient regardless of the specific health programme they fall under.</p>.'Gruha Arogya' in urban areas: Mysuru DHO stresses on completing door-to-door survey.<p>To ensure privacy, health facilities will designate specific units where beneficiaries can seek one-on-one guidance. The National Health Mission is also set to develop digital tools and learning resources to support these integrated staff members.</p>.<p><strong>Focus on schools and outreach</strong></p>.<p>A significant portion of the order focuses on adolescents (aged 10-19). The Health department will collaborate with the Education department to align RKSK activities with school structures. Existing “School Health Ambassadors” will now serve as nodal teachers for adolescent wellness.</p>.<p>The government has mandated a special OPD day on the 13th of every month. On this day, specialists, including pediatricians, psychiatrists, and orthopedicians, will provide consultations for high-need children identified through school screenings.</p>.<p>To ensure accountability, the state has created a new post of Assistant Deputy Director to monitor RKSK activities. This move is expected to improve outcomes in critical areas, including the prevention of teenage pregnancies and improving the nutritional status of the state’s youth. The Health department will also consolidate various resource materials into a single online self-learning module, accessible to both counsellors and students across Karnataka.</p>
