Mental depression cases on the rise
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 01 2013 :
Even though undesired, Manipur is said to have all the essential ingredients to make majority of the people become mentally ill if the existing situation of law and order problem, violence and economic disparities persist.
Talking to The sangai Express, Head of Psychiatry Department, RIMS Prof N Heramani revealed that number of patients with problems of mental instability continue to rise at an alarming rate as many patients have been eventually diagnosed to be mentally depressed even though their initial complaints while consulting doctors at the OPD were mainly based on suspicion of other ailments.
Explaining further, Dr Heramani said a number of mental depression cases continue to be referred to the Psychiatry department after initial consultation with doctors for ailments suspected to be related to general medicine, heart, liver, intestinal or kidney problems.
Reminding that passing away of family members or close relatives, experiencing violent incidents such as bomb blasts/gun-fights personally or through the media/casual interaction, family disputes, misfortune of family members/relatives like rape/molestation, economic insecurity caused by joblessness, big family parents unable to support their children's education or materialistic demands and memories of lost ones lingering for a long time are not favourable conditions, he also pointed out that financial stability is one of the best elements to prevent or eradicate mental depression.
Recounting personal experience of less than 40 patients seeking medical advice on a working day about five years back, Dr Heramani said the number of patient has gone up to 80-100 in the last few years.
He further informed that there is close link between stress and diseases like hyper tension (heart attack), peptic ulcer, diabetes mellitus, ulcerative colitis, bronchial asthma, arthpitis and urticaria.
Conveying that mental depression could be prevented to some extent if one remains physically healthy, the Professor lamented that taking into account existing socio-economic problems besieging Manipur it is unlikely that majority of the people would enjoy mental stability in the immediate future.