Sindh government on Tuesday has formed a Sindh Mental Health Authority (SMHA) as ah advisory body on all matters relating to promotion of mental health and prevention of mental disorder. The SMHA, established under section 3 (1) of the Sindh Mental Health Act, has also been assigned to develop and establish new standards for care and treatment of patients of said diseases.
The authority will consist of nine members including a retired judge of Sindh High Court, Secretary Health or Special Secretary (Public Health ), Director General Health Services Hyderabad, Additional Secretary (Technical or Public Health), Medical Superintendent of teaching hospital to be nominated by government, Medical Superintendent of Sir CJ Institute of Psychiatry Hyderabad, eminent psychiatrist and psychologist, a women nominated by Sindh Women Development Department and Deputy Secretary (technical or public health) Sindh. Under the terms of reference (TOR), the authority will advise the government on all matters relating to promotion of mental health and prevention of mental disorder and develop and establish new standards for care and treatment of patients. The authority would also recommend measures to improve existing mental health services for psycho-children, adolescents, psycho-geriatric, and forensic learning about disability and community-based services.