Need for preventing adolescents from substance abuse mooted
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 07 2018:
Noting that the symptoms and signs of mental health disorder are often manifested among adolescents in the State, Director of Health & Family Welfare Services, Dr K Rajo Singh has underscored the need to prevent adolescents from consuming alcohol and substance abuse so as to develop good habits in them for a bright future.
He was speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural function of XVIII MANIYCON 2018 which is the annual conference of Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS), Manipur State Branch organised today at Classic Grande.
The conference was held on the theme "Adolescent Mental Health" .
Dr Rajo said that screening should be done among the adolescents and those who use alcohol and other intoxicating substances must be verified to provide appropriate treatment, therapy, medication and programmes for mental health disorder.
Terming anger, mood change, loss of concentration, abnormal hearing and suicidal tendency as some of the signs and symptoms of mental health disorder, he elaborated that mental health disorder affects life in various ways such as schooling, maintaining relationship with others, eating and sleeping etc.
He informed that one among every five adolescents suffered from mental health disorder and that mood swing is quite common among them.
Presiding over the function, Dr N Heramani Singh, president of IPS, Manipur State Branch emphasised on the need for teachers to identify mental health disorder among themselves as well as amongst the children/students.
He pointed out that recognition of mental health disorder in India is very low and even in the global context.
He made an observation that teachers need to know the different types of mental health problems that can cause to students.
Heramani conveyed that attachment problems, pervasive development problem, disruptive behavior disorders and substance abuse are some of the common mental health problems in children between 1 to 18 years of age.
Brigadier MSVK Raju, president of IPS; general secretary Dr Gautam Saha and Dr OP Singh, editor of IPS, Eastern Zonal Branch attended the function as guests of honour.