Free mental health camp held
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 09 2021:
On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, which is observed on October 10 every year, a mental health camp was conducted on Saturday at Shija Hospitals & Research Institute, Langol under the theme "Mental Health Care for All: Let's make it a reality" .
During the camp organised by Psychiatry department under the guidance of professor and head of the Psychiatry department, Dr Ningombam Heramani Singh, a free Psychiatry and Psychology OPD consultation with a 15 per cent discount on investigation was made available to the participants.
A release by SHRI DGM -BD & Ops, Santosh Shekhar said that the event was held in collaboration with the support of Ya_All Youth Organization, a United Nations recognized inclusive youth network based at Sagolband, Imphal West.
Consultant psychiatrists Dr Mona Nongmeikapam and Dr Chaoba Seram and clinical psychologist Nomita Keisam consulted the patients and distributed free masks, mental health awareness pamphlets, and refreshments along with free medications during the health camp.
According to Dr Chaoba, most of the patients who attended the camp had anxiety and depressive disorders.
She further emphasised the need to give due importance to mental health.
Arunida Kh and Thum-chuichan Raman from Ya_All Youth Organization expressed that mental health camp like this is rare and hard to come by.
However, initiatives like these will encourage more people to come forward to seek help for their mental health conditions as it is not just with a psychosocial disability that needs help from a psychiatrist or a psychologist.
Psychologist Nomita shared that individuals from different parts of the state and different walks of life came for the consultation.
Patients range from 18 to 70 years and individuals with Dementia and Alzheimer's disease were consulted.
She requested all the stakeholders (Policy-makers, Mental Health Experts, and Society, etc.) to normalise mental health talks and to initiate a holistic approach towards it.
This year's mental health day aim is to highlight the unequal access to mental health all around the world.
With COVID-19 wreaking havoc across the world and uprooting many lives, access to better mental health is the need of the hour, added the release.