We still need to be concerned about elder mental health, Dr Reema Nadig argues in an article for ETHealthworld.com – especially in the context of the pandemic. Dr Nadig, chief operating officer and group medical director of KITES Senior Care, highlights that mental health issues affect twenty percent of India’s seniors according to the Longitudinal […]
Depression
Suicide of AIIMS doctor noted by Harsh Vardhan
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan has paid tribute to a resident doctor at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi, following his death by suicide. “Shocked & distressed to hear of the painful death of young & most brilliant Dr Anurag Kumar, Junior Resident at AIIMS Delhi,” […]
Coronavirus takes its toll on India’s mental health
Mental health issues and suicide rates have seen a notable increase in India since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. The Indian Psychiatry Society (IPS) said a recent study showed a twenty percent rise in mental health disorder cases, affecting at least one in five Indians. “The lockdown has had a massive impact on the […]
Mental health conditions on the rise
A spike in reports of Indians being affected by mental health conditions has been reported amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, according to a survey conducted by the Indian Psychiatry Society. In the week since a 21-day lockdown was declared by the Union Government, the number of people reporting mental health issues has increased by fifteen to […]
Suicide: Why so many take their lives
Illness and “family problems” are among the leading causes of suicide in India according to a report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Illness as a contributing factor to poor mental health and heightened suicide risk comes as no surprise. A study published late last year found that men, but not women, experience a […]
Just ninety seconds to spare
At the Kolkata Pavlov Hospital, The Guardian reports queues for mental health treatment often exceed 600 individuals. Appointments themselves often last for just ninety seconds. Such is the dearth of mental health facilities within India that Individuals often travel long distances to visit a facility offering mental health treatment, such journeys often lasting through the […]
One in seven Indians affected by mental health issues
One in seven Indians are affected by mental health conditions, according to a recent study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research. The study found that roughly 197 million persons were affected by mental disorders in 2017. The conditions surveyed included depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, idiopathic developmental intellectual disability, conduct disorders, and […]
Depression, suicide, and pollution
When considering the link between exposure to air pollution and health problems, mental health may not seem an obvious connection to draw to breathing toxic air. However, research has indicated a link between the two in the past – and a recent paper indicates that exposure to air pollution increases the risk of developing depression […]
Injury and suicide risk in men
Men, but not women, are placed at a higher risk of suicide following injury or prolonged illness, claims a study led by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) and published in JAMA Psychiatry. “Suicide is incredibly challenging to predict, because every suicide death is the result of multiple interacting risk factors in one’s life,” […]
How mental health affects heart health
On the face of it, mental health issues and heart health may not seem to have an obvious connection. Yet researchers have identified a link between the two, drawing a connection between mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression and coronary artery disease (CAD). “A personality with anger, aggression, hostility and a feeling of […]