*6 Aug 2011* *CHENNAI* : The Union health ministry may have strong reasons to question the findings of an international study of the prevalence of depression in various countries. Its main grouse is that in India it was conducted only in Puducherry and the number of people surveyed was half the average sample size used in other countries. However, this does not detract from the enormity of the problem as brought out by the study. Of course, India is not the depression capital of the world as that would be the US and France, which recorded the highest rates of prevalence.
But what makes India’s case problematic is that there is lesser awareness in the country of depression and the damage it causes. Coupled with this is the social stigma attached to the condition, as a result of which few approach a psychiatrist in time. By the time medical help is sought, the condition would have reached a debilitating stage. That one among 10 persons in India is susceptible shows how widespread the problem is. Statistics also suggest that women are twice likely to suffer from depression. Also, facilities for treatment of such a large number of patients simply do not exist.Psychiatry is a much neglected subject with few doctors willing to specialise in it. There are only 3.5 psychiatrists per one million people. Since most of them practise in urban areas, the availability of such doctors in the countryside falls below one doctor per a population of one million. Untreated depression shortens life, reduces productivity and, in some cases, leads to suicide. There was a time when it was believed that conditions of the mind could not be cured but today medicine has reached a stage where even schizophrenia can be controlled through drugs. A greater awareness about depression and facilities for its treatment are needed. Otherwise, it will amount to wasting away a large component of India’s human resources. http://expressbuzz.com/opinion/editorials/Removing-the-stigma-attached-to-depression/301414.html -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/MhaNewsViewsIndia?hl=en ------------- Affiliated Groups : MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INDIA [email protected] Discussions on mental health law / policy / plan monitoring / human rights etc [email protected] India-specific news and views related to mental health [email protected] Information and support to carers of people with mental health issues [email protected] Mutual support and sharing of experiential knowledge, skills and social learning amongst peers
