{
  "id": 17910964,
  "title": "Initiative to strengthen perinatal mental healthcare to be piloted in T.N.’s Villupuram district",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/initiative-to-strengthen-perinatal-mental-healthcare-to-be-piloted-in",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-11-03T04:48:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu - Sci-Tech",
    "slug": "the-hindu-sci-tech",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/initiative-to-strengthen-perinatal-mental-healthcare-to-be-piloted-in-villupuram-district/article71657511.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Tamil Nadu is set to launch a pilot project aimed at enhancing perinatal mental healthcare services in Villupuram district. The initiative, known as 'Thai Manam,' involves the screening of pregnant women for mental health issues, primarily depression, at the primary healthcare level. Village Health Nurses (VHNs) and medical officers from four blocks — Kanai, Koliyanur, Vallam, and Mugaiyur — are receiving specialized training to identify and address these concerns.\n\nThe project is a collaborative effort between the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), the National Institute of Epidemiology, and the Directorate of Public Health (DPH) and Preventive Medicine. By implementing this initiative, Tamil Nadu aims to ensure that pregnant women receive timely and appropriate mental health care, potentially improving overall maternal and child health outcomes.",
  "summary": "As a part of the initiative, Village Health Nurses and medical officers are being trained to screen pregnant women for mental health problems, particularly depression, during the antenatal and postnatal periods and facilitate timely and appropriate care",
  "key_points": [
    "Tamil Nadu to pilot perinatal mental healthcare project in Villupuram district",
    "Thai Manam initiative focuses on screening pregnant women for depression at primary healthcare level"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}