Understand people with mental health problems, district surgeon urges at Dhule awareness rally

Dhule: People facing mental health problems often suffer more from society's misconceptions, fear and negative attitudes than from the illness itself. Rather than blaming them, everyone has a responsibility to listen to them calmly and encourage them to seek counselling and treatment, district surgeon Dr Ravindra Sonawane said.

Under the Seva Sankalp campaign, the district hospital held an awareness rally in the city on Saturday, October 10, for World Mental Health Day and Palliative Care Day. Held on the instructions of collector Bhagyashree Vispute, the rally was flagged off by Dr Sonawane and went from the district hospital via the zilla parishad to the collector's office.

Many mental health problems can be treated effectively if the symptoms are recognised early and the right treatment is taken, he said, urging people to use the psychiatry department and counselling services at the district hospital without embarrassment or fear.

Representatives and students from the district legal services authority, nursing colleges and the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram took part. Additional district surgeon Dr Sameer Shaikh, Dr Harish Mehra of the district mental health programme and psychiatrist Dr Vikram Vaidya were present.

Source: Esakal