Psychiatric Illnesses On Rise In Urban India
Durgesh Nandan Jha | TNN
New Delhi: City life has its own trials. Stress at work and in social life have resulted in an increase in the number of people suffering from psychiatric illnesses and sub-syndromes of diseases like headache, tension and insomnia, says a survey conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on urban mental health.
According to the survey conducted across three cities in the country, including Delhi, 8-10% people suffer from psychiatric illnesses like depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia, among others.
Sub-syndrome mental illnesses — psychological problems that do not qualify as mental illness — were found to be more common. “Total 3,600 people in Delhi from different socio-economic strata were included in this study, which was conducted between 2004 and 2009. It was found that even in a city like Delhi, where medical facilities are available and there is greater awareness about psychiatric illnesses, only 10-20% receive treatment. There is a stigma attached to mental illness and people tend to avoid institutional health facilities available,” said Dr Nimesh Desai, director of the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), who led the urban mental health survey in Delhi. He said focus group meetings conducted to analyse the results showed that many people – mostly young
According to the survey conducted across three cities in the country, including Delhi, 8-10% people suffer from psychiatric illnesses like depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia, among others.
Sub-syndrome mental illnesses — psychological problems that do not qualify as mental illness — were found to be more common. “Total 3,600 people in Delhi from different socio-economic strata were included in this study, which was conducted between 2004 and 2009. It was found that even in a city like Delhi, where medical facilities are available and there is greater awareness about psychiatric illnesses, only 10-20% receive treatment. There is a stigma attached to mental illness and people tend to avoid institutional health facilities available,” said Dr Nimesh Desai, director of the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), who led the urban mental health survey in Delhi. He said focus group meetings conducted to analyse the results showed that many people – mostly young
Adults – used tranquilizers and sleeping pills.
“There appeared to be an interface between one’s physical medical condition and his state of mind. People suffering from diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and neurological disorders were found to have psychological problems in common,” Desai added.Depression was found to be the most common mental illness in the survey. “There is rift in social life of the urban populace. People communicate barely in families. Personal dissatisfaction, disinterest in work, lack of motivation, domestic problems and marital discord were major reasons behind the mental problems,” said another researcher.
It is assumed that in the next 10 years, these problems will escalate further. Lack of experts such as psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses and clinical psychologists was another big hindrance. There is a lack of beds in mental institutions, too. “There is shortage of about 8,000 psychiatrists, 17,000 clinical psychologistys and 9,000 nurses,” said Desai.
Delhi health minister Kiran Walia said the government is taking measures to fill in the gap in screening and treatment of mental disorders. “We are going to introduce mental health programme under the National Rural Health Mission. Under this initiative, doctors will make door-to-door visits and provide counselling and necessary treatment. The ASHA workers will be trained on how to screen psychiatric disorders and provide basic guidance to the people,” said Walia.
“There appeared to be an interface between one’s physical medical condition and his state of mind. People suffering from diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and neurological disorders were found to have psychological problems in common,” Desai added.Depression was found to be the most common mental illness in the survey. “There is rift in social life of the urban populace. People communicate barely in families. Personal dissatisfaction, disinterest in work, lack of motivation, domestic problems and marital discord were major reasons behind the mental problems,” said another researcher.
It is assumed that in the next 10 years, these problems will escalate further. Lack of experts such as psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses and clinical psychologists was another big hindrance. There is a lack of beds in mental institutions, too. “There is shortage of about 8,000 psychiatrists, 17,000 clinical psychologistys and 9,000 nurses,” said Desai.
Delhi health minister Kiran Walia said the government is taking measures to fill in the gap in screening and treatment of mental disorders. “We are going to introduce mental health programme under the National Rural Health Mission. Under this initiative, doctors will make door-to-door visits and provide counselling and necessary treatment. The ASHA workers will be trained on how to screen psychiatric disorders and provide basic guidance to the people,” said Walia.
