A survey report prepared by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences and released on the occasion of the 22nd Convocation of the (NIMHANS) in Bangalore says that 10 per cent of the country’s population is affected with some type of mental health. This is not a small chunk of population and the total number of mentally handicapped persons in our country is more than the population of Japan.
Delivering the key note address on the occasion, President Ramnath Kovind laid great stress on finding a mechanism so that we in his country will be able to reduce the number of people with mental health problem. There is big shortage of medical professionals and clinics in our country to overcome the growing number of people with mental ill health. There are only 5000 psychiatrists and less than 2000 clinical psychologists in the country. This is a very small number and unless we increase the number of psychiatrists it will not be possible to reduce the gaps.
An important aspect towards which we need to pay attention is that we in this country are not sympathetic towards the people with mental health problems. We fail to give them right support and on the other hand dispose them off cursorily as burden on the society. This is a totally wrong attitude and has to be reversed. Family members have to take care of such cases and not let them suffer. Showering praises on National Institute of Mental Health and Nuro Sciences (NIMHANS), the President said it was the right step in the direction of giving a fair deal to the people with mental debility. They have not to be shunned but taken in the fold and cared for. This was moral as well as religious duty of every Indian. About 175 students were receiving training in psychiatric treatment of patients and the President was happy to note that their services will be of immense benefit to the affected people. He advised that keeping in mind the growth and development of the country, we should have adequate paraphernalia to meet the challenges on this count.
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