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President calls for fight against stigma of mental health

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7 years ago

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Bengaluru, Dec 30 (IANS) Calling for a national mission to make mental health facilities accessible to all, President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday said India must fight against the stigma surrounding mental health.

“The biggest obstacle that patients of mental and neurological problems face is stigma and denial. Our society has to fight this culture of stigma,” the President said while addressing the 22nd convocation of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) here.

“As a country we must talk about mental health issues and not treat them as guilty secrets that are pushed under the carpet,” Kovind asserted.

“Mental health is particularly a problem among the young in the prime of their life, among the elderly, and those in urban areas. In India, all three segments are growing,” he reiterated.

At least 10 per cent of Indians have one or more mental problems, which is larger than the entire population of Japan, the President stated.

“There are just about 5,000 psychiatrists and less than 2,000 clinical psychologists in our country, these numbers are very small,” he lamented.

According to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) study in 2014, India is among the leading countries battling depression and anxiety.

Over five crore Indians are fighting depression each day, with an availability of only about 0.3 psychiatrists and 0.07 psychologists for ever 100,000 people in the country, as per WHO.

“By 2022, India needs to ensure that those suffering from severe mental health disorders are diagnosed and have access to treatment facilities. Let us take this up as a national mission,” Kovind insisted.

Calling NIMHANS a “national asset”, the President said the institution has had a commendable record of treating about 700,000 patients each year, including many from abroad.

Set up in 1925, NIMHANS is the apex centre for mental health and neuroscience education in the country, running autonomously under the ministry of health and family welfare.

Karnataka Governor Vajubhai R.Vala, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar, Union Minister of Health and Family Affairs J.P. Nadda were among the others present at the event.

–IANS
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Corona

Covid toll in Karnataka is a worrying sign for state government

Published

3 years ago

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May 4, 2022

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Even though Karnataka recorded the lowest number of Covid deaths in April since the virus struck first in 2020, the state is recording a rise in the positivity rate (1.50 per cent). Five people died from the Covid infections in April as per the statistics released by the state health department. In March, the positivity rate stood around 0.53 per cent. In the first week of April it came down to 0.38 per cent, second week registered 0.56 per cent, third week it rose to 0.79 per cent and by end of April the Covid positivity rate touched 1.19 per cent.

on an average 500 persons used to succumb everyday in the peak of Covid infection, as per the data. Health experts said that the mutated Coronavirus is losing its fierce characteristics as vaccination, better treatment facilities and awareness among the people have contributed to the lesser number of Covid deaths.

During the 4th and 6th of April two deaths were reported in Bengaluru, one in Gadag district on April 8, two deaths were reported from Belagavi and Vijayapura on April 30. The first Covid case was reported in the state in March 2020 and three Covid deaths were recorded in the month. In the following month 21 people became victims to the deadly virus, and May 2020 recorded 22 deaths. The death toll recorded everyday after May crossed three digits. However, the third wave, which started in January 2

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