SW Dir Uttam calls for timely treatment of mental disorder
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 10 2021: National Mental Health Programme, National Health Mission Manipur observed the World Mental Health Day under the theme 'Mental health in an unequal world' at the auditorium hall of Indian Medical Association (IMA), Lamphelpat on Sunday.

Social welfare director Ngangom Uttam, who attended the observance as chief guest, said that people often hide mental illness out of shame.

However, there is nothing to be ashamed about mental illness as it is like any other ailments and need timely treatment.

Considering the stigma people with mental disorder are facing, there is strong need for aggressive and extensive awareness activities.

State health mission is taking up various measures to address the issue of mental health and having a mental hospital will be of great help in many of the situations.

The state health department had already sent a proposal to the CM for setting up a mental hospital in the state.

Though it is not an area of social welfare department, authority concerned needs to consider the proposal, he said.

On the other hand, the government is providing legal empowerment to people with mental illness.

It is up to the normal people in their surroundings to make the link so that they can get legal aid from the government in times of heed, he said while stressing the need to have legal aid volunteers for people with mental illness.

He also said that there are several people suffering from mental illness, whose records are not with the government and are not getting any treatment.

Their conditions only became public in media after they commit a crime.

There is need to highlight stories of people who recovered from mental illness and are normal life, he said, while adding that there are doctors, engineers and officers from among such people.

Uttam further said that the social welfare department in association with health department is planning to organise training programmes wherein two teachers from each school of the state will be provided basic training on basic child counselling, understanding signs of mental illness in children and providing the right first aid to such individuals.

Head of RIMS psychiatry department professor RK Lenin, who attended the event as guest of honour, said that all people have different lives and there are many people who are deprived of their rightful entitlements.

Mental health is largely related with socio-economic status of an individual.

However, people often tend to ignore mental health and the situation is a global phenomenon.

As per the WHO report, 10 out of 100 people suffer from mental health issues.

The number is 19 out of 100 in Manipur and it has become higher during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rate of getting treatment is very low, especially during the pandemic.

Experts believe that many normal people will start suffering from mental health issues after the pandemic and there is strong need to have proper counselling for all those recovering from Covid-19 .

The government needs to frame a policy in this regard, he said.

State Mission Director of National Health Mission Manipur Dr N Shyamjai presided over the observance function, which was also attended by Manipur State Legal Services Authority member advocate Chongtham Momon as guest of honour.

Indian Psychiatry Society Manipur State Branch also observed the day by organising a mental health camp at LM School, Saparmeina in Kangpokpi district on Sunday.

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