How much do our happiness and our misery depend on our social relationships and our mental and physical healthIJ The much-needed issue will be discussed threadbare at a two-day conference themed "Stress, Relationship and Mental Health" here beginning Saturday, ahead of the world mental health day to be observed on October 10.
Experts from the sector will deliberate on this oft neglected topic, said Dr RC Jiloha, President of the Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS) North Zone, which is organising the event in collaboration with the Health Department of NDMC.
Stressing that such discussions are the need of the hour, Dr Jiloha, Professor of Psychiatry & Chairman, Centre for Rehabilitation Sciences, Jamia Hamdard, Delhi, noted that almost all of us feel stressed or overwhelmed at some point of time due to undesirable life events which make us disturbed. Supportive relationships help making us face these challenges in a healthy and effective manner.
"Having supportive and cordial relationships with others is an indicator of sound mental health as it plays a key role in establishing and maintaining relationships with others," he said.
Dr BS Chavan, Prof and HOD, (Psychiatry) at Government Medical College in Chandigarh said that stress particularly among youngsters is on increase because of various reasons such as poor lifestyle, nuclear families, high expectations and competitions. Good relationship with their family members and friends can go a long way in ensuring their better mental health, he added.
Several theme symposia and more than 100 research papers on mental health will be presented at the 42nd Annual Conference of the Indian Psychiatric Society (NZ) to be inaugurated by Prof SD Sharma, former Addl. Director General Health Services and founder Director of Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences Delhi.
According to the latest WHO report on depression, almost 7.5% of Indians suffer from major or minor mental disorders that require expert intervention while a report by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) has noted that incidence of depression is roughly one in every 20 Indians or 5 per cent of the population.