Objective: To identify the factors responsible for decaying mental helth situation in Orissa.
Design: It is an investigative study.
Materials and Methods: Questionnare survey, inetr personal communication.
Results: Health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely an absence of disease or infirmity . Hence mental well-being is a major component of health.
As per the available information worldwide, one in four suffers from a mental or neurological disorder at some point during their life time. 450 million people are currently affected by these disorders. 121 million people suffer from depression. 50 million people suffer from epilepsy. 24 million people suffer from schizophrenia. 10 to 20 million people attempt suicide every year. Every year one million people commit suicide.
The problem of Orissa can be stated that the population of Orissa is nearly 3.75 crores. We are having only 19 government psychiatrists to tackle the mental health of the entire state. The doctor population ratio (psychiatrists) is 0.04 per 1 Lakh population. According to the theme of ”Dareto Care”, it is very difficult for only one psychiatrist to care for 25 Lakh people. Therefore, a crisis has arisen already and will continue to escalate until such time as the government and voluntary organizations agree to provide sufficient mental health expertise and infrastructure to cope with the immense problem.
Most important, the action and interventions initiated so far both by Government and NGOs are quite inadequate to tackle the issue. At every levels there is a fair need of coordination and integration of activities. NGOs could only play a supplementary role when the available infrastructure is there. Hence, to have a cohesive and conducive atmoshpehere, the need of GO & NGO collaboartion is of inescapable necessity. However, taking into consideration the present need, the infrastructure available, and the resources available, the following recommendations are made for fruitful intervention to the issue:
Involvement of primary health centers. Initiation of Primary Health care at the Village Level & Sub-centre Level. Mental health training. Training of others – (teachers, Anganwadi workers, ANM, health workers, nurses). Special clinics for mental retardation. Involvement of N.G.O.’s. Irradication of social stigma. Education of community and ublic. Rehabilitation units.
Conclusion: Involvement of primary health centers. Initiation of primary health care at the village level and Sub-center level. Mental health training. Training of others – (teachers, Anganwadi workers, ANM, health workers, nurses). Special clinics for mental retardation. Involvement of N.G.O.’s. Irradication ofsSocial stigma. Education of community and public. Rehabilitation units.
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