*-*-*-*-*-*-* Help GoaNet grow... recommend it to others you know... *-*-*-*-*-*-* ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Documented by Goa Desc Documentation Service & circulated by Goa Civic & Consumer Action Network (GOA CAN)<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- 'Mental patients need more facilities' ----------------------------------------------------- A lecture on 'World Health Report 2001 - Mental Health: New Understanding, New Hope' organised by Goa Psychiatric Society, in the city, today, discussed various problems related to neurological disorders and their solutions.
Dr Srinivas Murthy, professor of psychiatry at National Institute of Mental Health and Neurological Sciences (NIMHNS), Bangalore, while delivering the lecture stated that though Goa has highly institutional approach to the mental health problems, with availability of 150 beds per million population, it was still lacking in community health facilities and further voiced the need to humanise mental facilities in order to remove stigma and discrimination attached to the mental disorders. "The paradigm of care to mentally disabled persons should be shifted from mental asylums to decentralise rehabilitation centres and community-based services," he suggested. Dr Murthy also condemned the prison-like situation in nearly 70 per cent of the mental asylums in the country, with 50 per cent of them not even having adequate drinking water facilities. Speaking about 'World Health Report 2001 - Mental Health: New Understanding, New Hope', he stated that neurological disorder is not a rare phenomenon and that between a third and half of the population experiencing a disaster, suffer from significant mental illnesses. The report shows that nearly 10 to 15 per cent of adult population is affected by mental disorders. It further points out that 20 per cent of patients seeking primary health care have one or more mental disorders, though not recognised. The report also mention about one in 4 families having at least one member with a behavioural or mental problem. Schizophrenia is the third common disability condition on global level, in 15 to 44 years age group, it adds. "There are two primary solutions, effective treatment and approach to provide treatment," Dr Murthy observed, further stating that many disorders like depression, substance abuse, epilepsy and schizophrenia are totally or partly reversible. The new understanding of mental health is driven by advances in neuroscience and behavioural medicine, he apprised, adding that integration of neuroimaging and neurophysiology with molecular biology will lead to greater understanding of mental illnesses. "The chemical changes in brain at the junctions between one nerve cell and another makes the difference, and revelation of this fact has made all the difference," Dr Murthy opined. Depression is observed in people who take oral contraceptives, steroids and drugs for hypertension, he pointed out. Regarding health and behaviour, he said, one of the most important risk factors at the level of the individual is the exposure to stress. Stress response is an important component of the body's regulatory system, and though stress response is a protective function in the short-term, it becomes pathological when it persists for a long time or when it is inappropriate to the situation. "The cumulative effects of stress can impair neural excitability, cause atrophy of neurons, inhibit neurogenesis and cause a permanent loss of neurons," he added. The integration of mental health with primary health care is also needed, and for this purpose staff should be given adequate training, apart from the availability of medicine and referred linkages, Dr Murthy briefed.The importance of family support to mental patients and role played by Non-Governmental Organisation was also highlighted. Earlier, Dr Rajesh Dhume, secretary of the Society, in his welcomed address said that Goa Mental Health Policy has been drafted and presented to the state government, which includes helping of patients with the aid of family health care delivery system, medical education and research, besides training the man power and participation of voluntary sector in the process.He also stressed upon the need to promote and protect the fundamental rights of the mental patients. Dr Vikram Patel, president of the Society introduced the guest, while Dr Anil Rane proposed the vote of thanks. Dr Pundalik Pai Kakode, treasurer of the society and Dr Dorin Dias were also present on the dais. An interaction session followed the lecture programme ---------------------------------------- The Navhind Times 23/9/02 --------------------------------------- ======================================= GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE Documentation + Education + Solidarity 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 Tel: 252660 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] website: www.goadesc.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy ======================================= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e-mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead !
