GUWAHATI, Feb 11 � In spite of witnessing a substantial improvement in the flow of funds, mental health care system in the country, especially North East, continue to remain in a state of utter neglect.
This was observed by PC Sharma, member, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) while delivering his speech during the North Eastern Regional Review Meeting on Mental Health here at the Assam Administrative Staff College today.
The review meeting was organised by the NHRC in collaboration with LGB Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur.
He, while informing that funds to the tune to Rs 1,000 crore was earmarked in the Eleventh Five Year Plan for improvement of mental health care, proper utilisation of it continue to remain a challenge.
�Public health care in the North East region needs considerable improvement, especially when we consider inaccessibility of certain areas, which makes the task of extending both hospital-based and community-based proposition a serious roadblock,� the former chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation said, while calling for a greater public participation.
The NHRC member also pinpointed that the existing 42 mental care hospitals in the country is inadequate to cater to the rising number of patients with mental illness.
It needs mention here that the Supreme Court has mandated the NHRC to monitor the functioning of the mental hospitals in the country.
Professor D Nagaraja, director and vice chancellor of the Bangalore-based National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), while giving further insights of the mental health care scenario of the country, opined that mental here system is in a poor state not just in the rural areas but also in some of the well-connected places.
�While 2 per cent of the total country�s population suffer from serious mental disorder, around 5 per cent are believed to suffering from common mental disorders,� Prof Nagaraja, rated as country�s one of the better known mental health experts, stated.
�The irony, however, remain that 50 per cent of the patients with serious mental disorder and 90 per cent of those suffering from common mental disorder, does not get proper mental care,� Prof Nagaraja rued.
While stating that symptoms of mental disorder, be it serious or common can be spotted during tender age, Prof Nagaraja vouched for the introduction of psychology-oriented subject in all the schools of the country.
Representatives from almost all the NE States also made presentations during the review meeting.
Experts from the field including Dr SK Deuri, director, LGB Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur, KS Money, secretary general, NHRC were also present on the occasion.
