Page 9 - Mental Health

Over 170,000 suicides in India: Why experts say mental health isn't enough

Experts highlight poverty, debt, domestic violence, addiction, and social isolation as key contributors to suicide in India, urging policymakers to include them into their prevention strategies

Strategies to prevent suicides should address risk factors: Researchers

National strategies aimed at preventing suicide should include measures to address social issues to prevent people from reaching "crisis point," even as clinical services for those in crisis are critical, argue authors of a new six-paper series published in The Lancet Public Health journal. The international team of authors, including those from the Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, called for a change in the narrative around suicide -- to move away from presenting it as a purely mental health issue and acknowledge the impact of social risk factors, such as poverty, domestic violence, addictions and isolation. This was particularly relevant for India, which released the National Suicide Prevention Strategy in November 2022, and grounded most of its proposed solutions within the mental health scope, despite police data showing that factors, including gender, employment, and stressful life events have important roles to play, the researchers said. The strategy is aimed at

Delhi govt to expand mental health counseling services to all govt schools

The Delhi government on Friday directed the government schools to conduct mental-health check-ups of the students for their well-being by introducing comprehensive counseling services, according to an official statement. Delhi Education Minister Atishi instructed the Directorate of Education (DoE) to draft a blueprint for the initiative following the success of a pilot phase that provided counseling to over 20,000 students across 20 schools, said the statement. Atishi directed the DoE to prepare a blueprint for expanding counseling services to all government schools here, ensuring timely support for the students' mental health needs, it said. She said that the pilot phase ran for a year in which the Educational and Vocational Guidance Counselors (EVGC) and school psychologists worked with the students to maintain their mental health, said the statement. Atishi mentioned that group sessions and social-emotional learning programs helped the students manage stress and stay emotionally

28% UG, 15% PG med students diagnosed with mental health conditions: Survey

Nearly 28 per cent of UG and 15.3 per cent of PG medical students reported having been diagnosed with mental health conditions, according to an online survey conducted by a National Medical Commission (NMC) task force. The survey, which included 25,590 undergraduate students, 5,337 postgraduate students, and 7,035 faculty members recommended that resident doctors work no more than 74 hours per week, get a weekly one-day off and seven-eight hours of daily sleep. Thoughts of self-harm or suicide in the last 12 months were reported by 16.2 per cent MBBS students while the number was recorded at 31 per cent in MD/MS students, according to the report by the National Task Force on Mental Health and Well-being of Medical Students. According to the task force survey report that was finalised in June this year, feelings of loneliness or social isolation are common, with 8,962 (35 per cent) experiencing them always or often and 9,995 (39.1 per cent) sometimes. Social connectivity is an issue

Atishi orders probe into deaths of 14 inmates of Asha Kiran shelter home

Delhi minister Atishi on Friday directed the Revenue Department to initiate a magisterial inquiry into the deaths of 14 inmates of the Asha Kiran shelter home in northwest Delhi's Rohini and submit a report within 48 hours. Asha Kiran is a Delhi government-run facility for "mentally challenged" and comes under its Social Welfare Department. The department is currently without a head following the resignation of Raaj Kumar Anand. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently lodged in Tihar jail, has not assigned the charge of the department to any minister. Taking cognisance of news reports on the deaths since January this year, Atishi said they "reportedly occurred due to health issues and malnutrition and indicates the lack of availability of requisite facilities to the inmates". "It is very shocking to hear such bad news in the capital city of Delhi and we cannot tolerate such kind of lapses, if found true. This is a very serious issue and needs to be thoroughly ...

Eco Survey: Quadruple psychiatrists, integrate mental health in schools

Even as experts acknowledge the challenge, they also point to a rising trend in the number of psychiatrists due to an increased number of postgraduate seats in recent years

Doom scrolling to cyberbullying: Economic Survey focuses on mental health

The Economic Survey for FY24 highlighted that mental health affects productivity more broadly than physical health issues and highlighted the socio-economic impacts of mental disorders

Eco Survey calls for action for rising mental health issues among Indians

The Economic Survey on Monday flagged a rise in mental health issues among Indians, calling for a paradigm shift towards a bottom-up, whole-of-community approach to address the problem. Paying attention to mental health in society is both a health and an economic imperative, the policy document asserted while dwelling on the topic in a vast and detailed manner for the first time highlighting the various socio-economic repercussions of the issue. Mental health drags down productivity more widely in the ecosystem than individuals' physical health issues, it noted. Quoting the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) 2015-16 data, the survey said 10.6 per cent of adults suffered from mental disorders in India while the treatment gap for mental disorders ranged between 70 to 92 per cent for different disorders. Further, as per the NMHS, the prevalence of mental morbidity was higher in urban metro regions (13.5 per cent) as compared to rural areas (6.9 per cent) and urban non-metro areas (4

Laughter the best medicine in Japan: Local govt passes new health law

Explained: Japan's Yamagata prefecture's has introduced a new laughter ordinance aiming to promote better physical and mental health in the community

Delhi HC dismisses plea to disqualify PM, cites petitioner's mental health

Petitioner Captain Deepak Kumar alleged PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Jyotiraditya Scindia took false oaths at the beginning of their term in office and conspired against him

NEET: How exam cancellations impact students' mental health, wallets & more

NEET row: Competitive exam cancellations and delays amid irregularities leave students' future in a state of limbo

International Yoga Day 2024: Here's how Yoga transforms your mental health

International Yoga Day 2024: Yoga, an ancient practice to improve physical and mental well-being, is practised around the world. Here's how yoga improves mental well-being

Why does the American Surgeon General want warning labels on social media?

Banning phones in schools to limited screen times at home: Vivek Murthy is advocating for proactive steps by all to safeguard mental health of the youth on social media platforms

Why does the American Surgeon General want warning labels on social media?

Banning phones in schools to limited screen times at home: Vivek Murthy is advocating for proactive steps by all to safeguard mental health of the youth on social media platforms

Health ministry's mental health helpline crosses 1 mn calls since inception

The programme aims to enhance nationwide mental health service delivery, offering multi-language support and facilitating communication between callers and mental health professionals

A malignant concern: India is fast emerging world's cancer capital

The report sheds light on the concerning rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in India, including cancer, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and mental health issues

Counselling to caring: What it takes to be in good health mentally

Acknowledging a friend or someone in the family needs attention is the first step, says mental health experts

Empower family physicians to give psychological first aid: Dr Parikh

Increasing awareness in the country about mental health, says consultant psychiatrist

Big plans ahead: Cipla looks for shot in the arm in niche areas

Open to licensing, collaboration in anti-diabetes space

Despite mental health benefits, over 50% women quit exercising: Study

A global study conducted by ASICS found that while reported positive results from exercising, time pressures and social responsibilities led to more than half of them to quit this healthy practice