Trade Union Action by Staff Unions within NIMH

Trade Union Action by Staff Unions within NIMH

NIMH strongly discourages Trade Union Action within NIMH due the special group of patients NIMH caters to. NIMH encourages dialogue to resolve internal issues and requests central unions to exempt NIMH from all island trade union action similar to children‘s hospitals, maternal hospitals and cancer institutes.

The following factors should be considered in this regard.

1. NIMH caters only for patients with Mental Illness. Mentally Ill patients are a highly vulnerable group of patients subject to harassment, stigma and neglect.

2. Vast majority of NIMH admissions are as Involuntary Admissions done against the will of the patient under the Mental Health Act. Duty of care of staff to the patients as such should be considered much higher than in other hospitals.

3. NIMH also has multiple admissions sent by the District, Magistrate and High Courts and these patients remain in the custody of the Courts. Any lapse in care of these patients may be considered as contempt of courts.

4. Most patients of NIMH do not have good family support and visitors are very limited. As such the patients depend heavily on the institution to look after them.

5. NIMH houses very high risk patients with Suicidal Risk, Homicidal Risk and Risk of Severe

Violence. Constant care from all categories of staff is needed to manage these risks.