World Health Day consultation calls for greater attention to depression

New Delhi, April 12, 2017: A regional consultation, organized by the WHO Country Office for India, in collaboration with National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences and the Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka at Bengaluru made a strong call for increasing awareness and greater attention to mental health issues, especially depression.

The theme for this year’s World Health Day is Depression: Let’s talk.

In his address, Dr Rathan U Kelkar, Mission Director, National Health Mission, Government of Karnataka spoke about the integration of mental health programme in primary health care in Karnataka.

“We have trained our medical and para-medical staff for the support and treatment of depression and madethe required medication available at all levels from PHCs to district hospitals,” he added.

“Let this awareness celebration not be limited to today but the entire year. We should strive for early recognition of depression, provide treatment and help in preventing suicides,” Dr Kelkar urged.

Dr Shalini Rajneesh, Principal Secretary, Heath, Government of Karnataka also attended the event.

At the core of the World Health Day campaign is the importance of talking, breaking the stigma around depression, as a vital component of recovery. The stigma surrounding mental illness, including depression, remains a barrier to people seeking help throughout the world.

Speaking about the World Health Day,  Dr Henk Bekedam, WHO Representative to India said, “Being the single largest cause of morbidity globally, depression is a public health priority that concerns each one of us. All of us are stakeholders. The first step towards treatment and recovery is often talking to a person you trust.”

“While the government legislates, creates an enabling environment, and makes professional services available, the onus is on each one of us to reach out, be it a friend, a colleague, a neighbour or family and make a difference, even save a life. It is equally important that the patient seeks help when depressed,” added Dr Bekedam.

In this context, Dr Bekedam highlighted three recent developments that bode well for India in the area of mental health: The National Health Policy 2017 prioritizes mental health services as a component of addressing noncommunicable diseases; Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann Ki Baat address spoke at length on how to prevent and manage depression, and the path-breaking Mental Health Care Bill 2017, which decriminalizes attempt to suicide and has a rights-based approach.

WHO also commends the government for the comprehensive National Mental Health Policy 2014 and the Mental Health Action Plan 365.

As a part of the regional consultation, a panel discussion was organized to deliberate on different facets of depression and highlight areas that need urgent attention. This was co-chaired by Prof B. N.Gangadhar, Director, NIMHANSand Dr Rathan U Kelkar, Mission Director, National Health Mission.

The event was also graced byDr K.B.Lingegowda, Director, Kidwai Institute of Oncology; Dr Rajendra P Joshi, Central Government Health Services; Dr ShashidharBuggi, Director, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases; Dr LathaVenkataram, Gynaecologist and Obstetrician, Rangadore Memorial Hospital; Dr Thummala Kamala, Consultant in Diabetes, Jnana Sanjeevini Medical Centre; Dr ShivaramaVarambally, Dr Priya Treesa Thomas, DrJagdish T, Dr Paulomi Sudhir and Dr John Vijay Sagar from NIMHANS. They participated in the technical deliberation, which was moderated by Dr Prabha Chandra, Professor and Head, Department of Psychiatry, NIMHANS along with Dr Jagdish from Abhay Hospital, Bangalore.

Rrepresentatives from HealthDepartment, development agencies, health professionals from medical and nursing colleges, corporate hospitals, academicians, researchers, NGOs and media also attended the event.

Corporate Comm India (CCI Newswire)