By Our Staff Reporter
Mumbai, 18 Oct: Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari presided over a Seminar on ‘Mental Health Problems – A Growing Concern’ at Raj Bhavan, here, on Sunday. The Seminar, aimed at creating awareness about mental health and problems, was organised by the Bombay Psychiatric Society.
Speaking on the occasion, Governor Koshyari stressed on the need for adopting a holistic approach to the problems of mental health. Stating that the Bhagwad Gita begins with the chapter on Arjuna’s depression and ends with the way to salvation, he urged mental health professionals to study ancient scriptures, literature and philosophy that may hold new perspectives for them.
Consulting psychiatrist Dr Kersi Chavda said mental health problems are growing among children. He said 10 per cent of the children in the age group of 5-16 were found to have diagnosable mental problems; however almost 70 per cent of these did not recieve any medical intervention. He said the COVID-19 pandemic had increased the rate of mental health disorders. He said WHO had predicted that, by 2021, twenty per cent of India would suffer from mental illness.
Dr Avinash DeSouza, President of Bombay Psychiatric Society, recommended every school have a psychologist. He felt that the subject of mental health should be taught to students in schools.
The Consul General of Singapore in Mumbai, Ming Foong, Consul General of Israel Kobbi Shoshani, Executive Vice President of Hinduja Group Col PC Sood, Consulting Psychiatrist Dr Kersi Chavda, President, Bombay Psychiatric Society, Dr Avinash DeSouza, Dr Avinash Supe, Dr Sanjay Kumawat and Dr Anita Sukhwani were present on the occasion.
