IMPHAL, October 6: State Home Minister Gaikhangam today inaugurated the 38th Annual Conference of the Indian Psychiatric Society-Eastern Zonal Branch (CEZIPS 2012) at RIMS today.
The inaugural function was also attended by RIMS Director, Prof S Sekharjit Singh, Indian Psychiatric Society president Dr Roy Abraham Kallivayalli and Indian Psychiatric Society Eastern Zone president Dr PK Singh as guests of honour and president respectively.
Speaking as the chief guest, Home Minister Gaikhangam said, “Mental illness is an area which is always neglected, rather ignored and denied. People feel ashamed to disclose about their near and dear ones having mental illness”.
He said, people with mental illness are kept chained or under lock and key by their family members. Many times, they were abused, neglected, beaten up and not properly fed.
Elaborating further on the lives of mentally ill patients, he had said their lives used to be pathetic and pitiable, however the situation is gradually changing and is much better today.
He however continued that people believed in the rituals, prayers and traditional methods of healing.
“Today as medical science advances there are effective and affordable treatment for mental illness. These days we seldom see mentally ill persons wandering in streets. People started realizing the facts about mental illness that it is not due to all those superstitious beliefs but a manageable disease of the brain and mind.”
“Credit goes to the fast advancing mental and behavioral science and selfless efforts of psychiatrists to do away the ignorance and myths of mental illness and spread awareness of modern psychiatric management to the masses. But it is just the beginning; we have a long way ahead. Facilities for psychiatric treatment are available mostly in the big hospitals and urban areas.”
“But in the rural areas, awareness level is very low and facilities for treatment are also equally poor. It is very pathetic scene when someone is seriously ill, violent, aggressive and poses a threat to self and others, not co-operative to the family members and there is no facility or expertise to handle such an emergency situation. Because of such situations, mental illness is equated with violence, homicide, suicide, etc.”
“It is time to prepare ourselves to address such situations effectively and timely to avoid such avoidable situations.”
“Unlike our earlier belief that mental illness is madness, many of the mental illness will be manifested as common bodily discomforts like aches and pain, headache, giddiness, difficulty in breathing, sleep disturbance, lack of appetite, lack of interests in any activity, getting irritated very easily and feeling unhappy most of the time.”
“Many metropolitan cities and our north-eastern states are badlv affected by heroin, S.P. Tablets, other intoxicating drugs and alcohol. It spoils their health, academic carriers and their future. There is disharmony in the family, financial loss and breaks the heart of the parents and guardians.”
Drug abuse increases the risk of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C infection, etc. It is high time to realize that drug addiction is a disease and everyone must seek medical help.
He further stressed on the role of the family members in such cases.
“There is still lack of qualified psychiatrists in our region. More facilities for training are required.” He stressed on the need to provide basic trainings to nurses and para medical staffs posted at remote areas to identify mentally ill persons.
“It is right time we should realize that anyone irrespective of age, sex, religion, caste, educational background may suffer from mental illness. A healthy life style, avoiding drugs and alcohol, involve in social activities, relaxation after a day`s hard work and believe in honesty will boost to our mental health”.
The Minister ended his speech with a warm welcome of the delegates attending the conference.