The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Police launch helpline for the mentally ill

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 24, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Police launch helpline for the mentally ill

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, DEC. 23. The City Police today launched a helpline for the mentally ill at the police control room at the Commissionerate, as part of its efforts to help those who need special attention.

Helplines for children, women and senior citizens are already functioning from the control room.

Speaking to mediapersons after inaugurating the facility, the City Police Commissioner, R. Nataraj, said that anyone could dial 100 to inform the police about the mentally ill on roads. The police roped inThe Banyan, an organisation working for mentally ill destitute women, to man the helpline.

Information on the mentally ill would be referred to a special unit, which would produce the patient before the Magistrate or the Commissioner of Police for admission to mental hospital, he said.

Last year, 23 patients referred to the police were sent for treatment. This year, the police had received 16 complaints.

Security for Christmas

Mr. Nataraj said security had been provided in places of worship for Christmas. The police would patrol Santhome, Besant Nagar, Poonamallee High Road, Egmore and Little Mount at Saidapet from tomorrow evening.

Answering a question, Mr. Nataraj said the police did not receive any complaint from actress Trisha (about an illegal video clip, purportedly showing her, posted on the Internet). However there were complaints about obscene pictures, caricatures and drawings sent to cellular phones.

Action was taken against the offenders, he said

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