There is an urgent need to undertake a massive awareness campaign for mental health in the society, opined renowned psychiatrists and experts on the eve of mental health day on Sunday. The world mental health day is celebrated on October 10 every year for raising awareness on mental health issues.
Renowned psychiatrist and Deputy Medical Superintendent (MS) of associated hospital of Government Doon Medical College (GDMC), Dr JS Rana while talking to The Pioneer said that 80 per cent of the patients with mental disorders can be cured but for it they need to be taken to an expert.
He said that the symptoms of mental disorder could be very subtle and family members should be careful to identify them. “Irritation by children is one of the most common behavioral patterns. One should not ignore them as they indicate that the child could be in depression which could further aggravate if not attended to,’’ he said.
The psychiatrist said that change in behaviour is one of an early sign of mental illness. A person shows changed food preferences, sleep pattern and could start substance abuse.
He said that it is for the parents and family members to understand these changes and consult a doctor. Dr Rana said that in rural areas of Uttarakhand people tend to believe necromancers, quacks and Pundits more and don’t prefer taking the person to a medical practitioner which is very unfortunate.
He informed that due to variety of reasons the number of people with mental disorders especially depression has increased in past some years in Dehradun. In August this year, the Rajya Sabha passed the new mental health care bill
which expands rights and autonomy for people with mental illness.
The programme manager for mental health in the Emmanuel Hospital Association, Dr Kaaren Mathias said that Primary and secondary mental health care services and the required medicines must be accessible in every district.
The National Mental Health Programme which has fallen far short of hopes in implementation must become a strong flagship that ensures access to care for all people with mental distress.
She added that her organisation has trained ASHA workers for care of mentally ill. Mathias informed that the attendance in the Selaqui OPD has quadrupled in the last three years.
The world federation for mental health has set up ‘physiological first aid and support people can provide to those who are in distress’ as theme of this year’s mental health day.