Public awareness events on mental health held
   Date :11-Oct-2020
 
Public awareness _1 
 
 
 
Staff Reporter :
 
A SERIES of public awareness programmes were held at all the Government Health institutions in the State capital to mark the occasion of World Mental Health Day. In these programmes, citizens were informed about various diseases and problems related to mental health. On this occasion, health workers informed the citizens about self-screening ways of mental problems. Detailed information was shared about mental problems such as depression or anxiety, problems due to excessive stress, addiction of alcohol or other drugs, severe mental illness, retardation, mental health problems of the elderly and those of children.
 
Cases of stress, anxiety and fear have increased in numbers due to circumstances created due to coronavirus pandemic. In this regard, people were made aware of commonly adopted norms such as wearing face masks, social distancing, and taking care of personal and hand hygiene to prevent the attack of the virus. People were urged not to believe in misleading and false information related to COVID-19 because such information can create a fear in mind of people regarding the virus.
 
On this occasion, congenital mental deformities and mental development of children were discussed with parents and were also given detailed information on the developmental aspects according to the age of the children. Quiz on mental health, healthy lifestyle was held, Yoga and meditation programmes were also held at these health institutes. A ‘Mann’ ward has been created in the district hospital for counselling of mental patients, where people can get counselling and treatment.