The panel discussion held during a seminar organised by the CIHSR to commemorate World Health Day on April 7.
• Nagaland has only one mental health institution
• Only 6 psychiatrists for entire state
• Only 2 districts covered by Mental Health Programme
Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 7
Depression though a common mental disorder often gets ignored.
The sidelining, most often, occurs as a result of the affected or the people around failing to acknowledge it as a typical ailment more so out of stigma than general ignorance.
As per WHO estimates, more than 300 million people worldwide today are living with depressive disorders. In India, as per a survey of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, 1 in every 20 persons suffers or has some form of depression.
Breaking social taboo and getting people to talk about it, while allowing the affected to seek help has been at the core of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) health campaign for 2017. Depression: Let’s talk being the theme for 2017’s World Health Day observed on April 7 worldwide.
In line with the WHO slogan, the CIHSR organised an awareness seminar today at the Agri Expo, Dimapur with state health officials, NGOs, church leaders and other stakeholders attending.
“It is something we don’t talk about often. But we must talk about it,” was how CIHSR Director Dr. Sedevi Angami put it while outlining the purpose of the WHO campaign. Considered rather minor and often imperceptible, depression or any other form of mental disorder is clear, present and real, said Dr. Sedevi.
According to him, very often a lack of insight gives rise to a casual response to mental disorders while the affected suffer unaided. In a place where mental disorder is often associated with “demon possession,” Dr. Sedevi called for a need for greater awareness and sensitisation.
In tandem with sensitisation should come professional care and support. With India having less than the required number of practicing psychiatrists and clinical psychologists and Nagaland reporting increasing cases of mental disorders, he said, “We definitely need more psychiatrists.”
Psychiatrist Dr. Chikrozho Kezo said that while depression is a major global public health issue, it can be prevented and treated with professional intervention. Treatment usually involves “talk therapy and medication,” said Dr. Kezo who is the Dimapur District Programme Officer for the Nagaland State Mental Health Programme.
He said that if left untreated, it can lead to severe mental disorder, while citing depression as a major cause of suicides. It is estimated that by 2020, depression will be second only to cardio-vascular illness in terms of disability-adjusted life years or the second most contributing factor to years lost due to ill health.
Nagaland Status
As regards the status in Nagaland, he said Nagaland has only 6 in-service psychiatrists at present with some posted as Medical Officers of government health centres. The figure roughly translates to one psychiatrist per 2 lakh people. The state has 1 mental health institution – the State Mental Health Institute & Hospital, Kohima. Only 2 districts – Dimapur and Mokokchung are covered under the Mental Health Programme.
The District Mental Health Programme Centre (DMHP) in Dimapur is headed by Dr. Kezo, who holds charge as Senior Medical Officer of CHC, Dhansiripar. This centre attached to the District Hospital opened in December 2015. According to him, this centre has the basic required manpower and free medicine facility.
While no conclusive data on the state scenario could be availed, Dr. Kezo informed that the DMHP in Dimapur has registered as many as 380 psychiatry cases since December 2015. He added that approximately 5 percent of the cases are depressive disorders. He though added that the patients are not confined to Dimapur alone. “There are patients from Assam and the interiors of the state too.”