World Mental Health Day

IMPHAL, Oct 9
Every year all over the World, October 10 is observed as the World Mental Health Day. Likewise, the District Mental Health Program Imphal West, under District Health Society Imphal West will also be observing the WMHD 2020 under the theme, “Mental Health for All : Greater investment - greater Access”.   
According to a release issued by Imphal West District Nodal Officer Dr Mary Haobam, almost one billion people around the world are living with mental disorders and expected to increase more following the coronavirus pandamic. And around 50% of people with mental disorders in high income countries and 85% of persons in low and middle income countries have no access to treatment.
So, the theme of the WMHD 2020 aptly calls for the attention of the Government, policy makers, all stakeholders to ensure action for greater investment and access to mental health to achieve the goal of Mental Health all.
Investment in Mental Health need not be economic or financial alone, but it should also include our time, attention, care, love and empathy from all sections of the society without stigma and discrimination among and between people, the release said.
The coronavirus pandemic has lead to hard and drastic measures in many parts of the world including Manipur and enforcement of physical isolation and social distancing become a new norm of life disrupting natural social interaction and there is large socio-economic fell out, in addition to fear of the disease all these has impacted on the mental health of people resulting in fear, stress or anxiety, loneliness depression, harmful substance use, suicidal behaviour and many others, it said.
The Directorate of Health Services, Govt of Manipur constituted "Psychological Support Team" for all the districts of Manipur as a front line covid warrior providing maximum psychological support to all the inmates, migrant workers from different States who are stranded in Manipur as well as for the  people who are infected by the virus.
The District Psychological Support Team Imphal West under the care of Dr Mary Haobam, ONO & officer-in-charge of the Imphal West have been looking after all the individuals staying in different quarantine centres, Community quarantine centres, Covid Care Centres, home isolations, hotel isolation etc.  The team have provided awareness on suicide prevention, distributed leaf lets, etc to the public, CHCs, PHC, Sub-centre, HWCs in order to prevent stigmatization and discrimination, it added.