Join Hand To Give Dignity And Respect To Patients With Mental Health Issues
10th October, Kolkata:
10th October has been declared World Mental Health Day by the WHO. On this occasion, and on the occasion of its 45th Foundation Day, Antara( www.antaraglobal.org ) – a psychiatric and rehabilitation centre – has organized a programme, at which the Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal Sri Keshari Nath Tripathi and Sri Sanjay Mitra, IAS (Chief Secretary, Govt. of West Bengal) would be present.
People who have beaten mental health issues and emerged healthy and functional in society are not accorded the same respect and dignity as survivors of other diseases. It is this attitude that Antara aims to change, to give greater respect to survivors of mental illness. Appropriately, this year, the theme for World Mental Health Day is “dignity in mental health”.
Says Mr. Kamal Prakash, President, Antara, “People with mental health conditions around the world experience stigma, discriminations and wide-ranging violations which strips them of their dignity. Thus, Antara has taken a stand to return the respect, recognition and dignity to the mentally disabled individuals by providing love, care, support and better facilities, as well as treatment, social support and other opportunities.”
WHO has predicted that about 20% of India’s population would suffer from some form of mental illness by 2020. The country has only about 3,500 psychiatrists. Therefore, the government is confronted with the problem of lowering this gap significantly over the next decade.
On this occasion, governor Sri Keshari Nath Tripathi said, “Serving the human cause and continuing to help the humanity and let us be little more compassionate towards those who has mental problem.”
Recently, the government has launched a National Mental Health Policy. Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Health Minister, has stated that universal access to mental health care is a specific goal of the government, and that funds will be given to all hospitals in the country to enable them to open departments for treating patients in need of psychological and psychiatric health care. Significantly, the Mental Health Policy was launched on the first ever National Mental Health Day organised by the government. The Policy’s objective is to provide universal access to mental health care by enhancing the understanding of mental health and strengthening leadership in the mental health sector at all levels.
It is unfortunate that mental health problems are on the rise, driven in large part by changing lifestyles and stress-related issues. Antara strives to extend a helping hand to the mentally distressed, through its comprehensive care and rehabilitation facilities for children and adults suffering from psychiatric disorders and chemical dependency. With a 200-bed capacity, Antara, licensed under the Mental Health Act, 1987, is one of the largest private psychiatric hospitals in India.
Said Mr. PM John, Hony. Gen. Secretary, Antara, “A day dedicated to mental health can be instrumental in raising people’s awareness of mental illnesses and removing the false perceptions attached to them. It is important to uphold the human rights of mental patients, and regenerate awareness against stigmatisation of people with mental illnesses. We must leave no stone unturned to highlight the symptoms and remedial opportunities for those with depression, schizophrenia, bipolar syndrome, etc.”
How can we promote the rights and dignity of people with mental health conditions? In the health-care system we need to provide better support and care for people with mental health conditions by: providing community-based services, encompassing a recovery approach that inspires hope and supports people to achieve their goals and aspirations, and encouraging the creation and strengthening of peer support and civil society organization.
About Antara:
Antara is a not-for-profit, private, voluntary, secular, and charitable Institution registered under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961. Antara provides: psychiatric inpatient treatment and rehabilitation through pharmaco-therapy, psychotherapy, occupational and aesthetic therapy; psychiatric and general medical outpatient consultation, medication, counselling, and community mental health outreach through satellite clinics in rural areas .Antara also conducts community based programs as well as educational courses for prevention and treatment of mental illness. Is is India’s largest NGO managed psychiatric care institution.