Community-based approach as an innovation in mental health care in India

Mental health issues and its respective domains have been at back burner ever since independence of India. The national policy on mental health was focused on states effort. In the last decade the work done by voluntary sector and NGOs has done significant work across the country. Community care program is the innovative approach that has helped the different stake holders in dealing with mental health and mental illness. The article highlights the stages of development and the major shift in approach in the last few years. The main idea is to develop a view point on community’s participation in the field of psychiatric work.