IMPACT-T

Assisted telepsychiatry to address the care gap among Tibetan refugees.

Duration

2021 - Ongoing

Location

Karnataka, India

Investigators

Dr. Ravindra Agrawal

Contact

kedar.mirchandani@sangath.in

Overview

IMPACT-T (IMProving ACcess through Telepsychiatry - Tibet) is implementing a telepsychiatry and counselling program across 4 Tibetan settlements in Karnataka, to bridge the care gap for mental health problems in the refugee community.

Through facilitation of psychiatric consultations online, and by providing psychological support, the nurses in 4 settlements of Bylakuppe, Mundgod, Hunsur, and Kollegal are aiming to treat this under-resourced community in an acceptable, feasible, and impactful manner. IMPACT-T is an adaptation of IMPACT, a research project by Sangath.

Rationale

According to the Demographic Survey of Tibetans in Exile - 2009, there were approximately 79,000 Tibetan individuals with refugee or stateless status residing in about 39 different settlements in India in 2009, with the majority located in Karnataka and Himachal. In order to get a clearer picture of the mental health gap in the community, Sangath conducted a survey in 2021. The survey revealed 1 in 10 participants screening positive for depression, and those with depression experiencing significant disability. One in 5 participants were currently using some substance, and the prevalence of violence was 2.1%. The high prevalence of mental health problems in the community, coupled with the challenges of accessing care in remote settlements, as well as supply-side barriers preventing qualified psychiatrists from providing care to the community, set the rationale for the project.