Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network-Mangalore (MD)
Mangalore, Oct 10: "Our Constitution has provided fundamental rights to every human being. The same applies to the people who are mentally ill. Even they deserve the benefits which we get. We should not treat them like animals," said honourable Additional District and Sessions Judge B K Naik after inaugurating the 'World Mental Health Day' programme.
Department of Psychiatry KMC and Wenlock District Hospital, Mangalore, District Legal Services Authority and Manaswini Mangalore organised a mental health awareness programme 'World Mental Health Day' here on Friday October 10, at RAPCC conference hall, Wenlock Hospital, Mangalore.
Addressing the gathering, Naik said, "If a person becomes mentally ill, his family members should look after him and before anything major problem occurs, he must be given treatment. In this generation, life has no value. If a person has mental disorders his entire life will be in misery. Sometimes people hesitate to take the mental patient to the hospital. We live in a stress and strained world where everything has changed. There are people who are having 'Schizophrenia.' If the said problem is found in the initial stages then it is easy to cure it, but if found too late, the treatment will take more time to cure."
"While entering into the contract, in order to be competent to contract, a person must be of sound mind. A person of unsound mind is one who is suffering from temporary or permanent mental derangement. Under criminal law, more protection has to be given to the person of an unsound mind. If the criminal is mentally ill, we (Judge) have to immediately send them to the psychiatrist for treatment. To live a happy life, you require mental peace," said B K Naik
Dr Ravish Thunga, professor and HOD of Psychiatry, AJ Institute of Medical Science, Mangalore in his keynote address, briefed about the problem 'Schizophrenia.' He said, "A long-term mental disorder of a type involving a breakdown in the relation between thought, emotion, and behaviour, leading to faulty perception, inappropriate actions and feelings can be seen from the person who has Schizophrenia."
"It is a major psychotic disorder. If the person is under treatment for Schizophrenia, then the problem can be cured. In case the person is left with the problem for more than two years, then the problem cannot be cured. 3/4th of the treatment for Schizophrenia is done through medicines and the 1/4th of the treatment is through counselling. Through counselling we can bring back his memory and he will live a normal life as before. The thinking part of the brain becomes weak when the person is affected with Schizophrenia. The total control of the thinking of that persons' becomes weak and starts to let in various things said by various other people. They feel like as if someone is talking to them when nobody is with them," he said.
"We are living in the country where Schizophrenia is more than what we think. There are people who live with Schizophrenia. Due to nuclear families, we are losing touch of our elders. Schizophrenia is a major problem we are facing due to the stress in the present generation. 'Psycho Social Care' provides very good treatment for Schizophrenia patients in and around the world," he added.
Dr Thunga also said that there are three major things to keep in mind when there is a Schizophrenia patient near to them or in the society. 'Critical comments, hospitality and over involvement.' "Schizophrenia patients should be provided with good hospitality and should not get too much attached to him. Society and family members should not throw harsh comments on them during the recovery period," he added.
On this occasion, honourable Senior Civil Judge and member secretary of District Legal Services Authority, Ganesha B released the 'Mental Health Awareness Leaflet.' KMC medical college students performed a play to show how to deal with the Schizophrenia patients and where to take them when they are affected with Schizophrenia.
Dr H S Shivakumar, district health and family welfare officer, Dr Rajeshwari Devi H R, district surgeon and superintendent of Wenlock hospital, Mangalore, Dr Caroline P D'Souza, assistant professor at KMC and HAMO, department of Psychiatry, Wenlock hospital, Dr Sunil Kumar, consultant psychiatrist and others were also present on the occasion.