Mental diseases still carry stigma: Hamid Ansari
Published: Saturday, Jan 21, 2012, 15:34 IST
By DNA Correspondent | Place: Bangalore | Agency: DNA
Vice-president Hamid Ansari on Friday called for measures to remove the stigma against mentally ill patents.
At the 16th convocation of National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans), Ansari said that while improving the infrastructure for ensuring mental health services is one aspect of the problem, the more serious issue is the stigma against mental illness in the country.
“While we have made enormous strides in de-stigmatising patients of HIV/Aids through public education and awareness campaigns, we have not been able to replicate the same regarding mental disorders,” he said.
He added that in India, there are only 20 psychiatrists for every one crore people. The global average is one psychiatrist for every 120 persons.
The vice-president also said that we needed to focus on
vulnerable population groups such as women, children, drug or alcohol addicts, natural or man-made disaster victims and those working or living in conflict zones. These population groups need proactive appraisal of their mental health condition and timely intervention.
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