The coronavirus pandemic is causing serious mental troubles in Covid positive patients, and the Chhattisgarh Health Department on Friday directed district health officers to issue Helpline numbers where patients can seek help.
Director (Health) Neeraj Bansod made the observation while reviewing the counselling system at Covid hospitals and Covid care centres and among patients quarantined at home, an official press release said.
He asked the district health officers to appoint at least one technical staff at Covid centres so that patients with serious mental issues can be easily identified.
Bansod called for audio visual entertainment at Covid centres.
He told officials to stock anxiety and depression medicines in their districts, the press release said.
The Director called for mental counselling of people who had attempted suicide at the block level. He also asked officials to get all staff posted in Covid isolation wards to undergo psychological first aid.
During the meeting, officials told the Director that due to Covid-19 mental issues like stress, anxiety and depression have increased. Under the National Mental Health Programme, counselling is being offered to the patients, the press release said.
Experts from NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences) at Bengaluru and RMA are providing counselling to the Covid patients.