Mental health practices in children's institutions in Maharashtra with special focus on Government Institutions in the districts of Thane, Yavatmal, Mumbai, Pune and Nasik

The paper focuses on the different mental health issues among the institutionalised children, present status of the mental health services in five district institutions in Maharashtra, the personnel and bodies involved in the practice, provisions under law for mental health care and need for further improvement. It has been observed that the mental health issues among the children are usually associated only with those children who are mentally challenged. The staff of the children institutions is usually not aware about the mental health care, its need and use in the lives of the children. The focus of the CWC and JJB is more on the social reintegration of the children. In such condition, it is quite interesting to understand about the ideas, opinions, understanding of the stakeholders about the mental health, how they are identifying and addressing the mental health needs of the institutionalised children and what issues they face while addressing these issues.