Need to introduce mental health screening: Dr Rathi
| Date :08-Oct-2024 |
Staff Reporter :
The initiative will help to improv e people’s mental health, said Dr Laxmikant Rathi, National President
of Psychiatry Society
Dal, roti, sabji and 2GB data on a platter!
“Watching mobile has become so common that most people can’t stay without it even while having meals. This is very serious issue. Nowadays, one has the menu of dal, roti, chawal, sabji and 2 GB data. Watching mobile during meals is causing several mental illnesses, some beyond repair. People should stay away from it. Especially children should be prevented from this habit,” said Dr Sudhir Mahajan, Secretary of Psychiatry Society Nagpur.
Advocating the mental toughness, Dr Laxmikant Rathi, the National President of Indian Psychiatry Society has proposed to start mental health screening. “It should be started from the schools, colleges, various establishments, government offices. If we could be able to collect the data of such mental health screening and maintain the records then it will help us as well as the individuals to improve their mental health.”
Dr Rathi, who hails from Amravati, was in city to attend the national conference hosted by Psychiatry Society of Nagpur.
A mental health screening is done through a standard set of questions. The person answers on the basis of which a health care provider can know the person's mood, thinking, behavior, memory, overall mental health. The screening can help to catch mental health conditions early so that the remedies can be applied.
According to Dr Rathi, this screening should be done in a planned manner with a focus on improvement in the mental health of the society. “Nowadays, rampant and unnecessary use of mobile too has become a menace. It is a challenge not only for us but for the whole society. Against this backdrop, we need to take the mental health screening seriously,” pointed out Dr Rathi.
Recently, Nagpur’s Commissioner of Police
Dr Ravinder Singal had sought help from the Psychiatry Society regarding identifying the mental condition of the criminals.
When this was pointed out to Dr Rathi, he said, “The mental health screening will get us complete record including those having criminal background. These records will help police to know their mentality resulting in nabbing such persons or realising the threat earlier.”
The crimes like persons raping a 4-year old girl or father molesting daughter are being exposed nowadays. When asked whether these crimes are taking place now or took place in the past too, Dr Rathi said, “People with perverted minds existed in the past too. Such types of bizarre incidents took place in the past too. Unfortunately, those did not come to the fore because of the fear of defamation. Now, people are communicating, expressing openly because of which we could be able to know these incidents. Excessive use or misuse of mobile is causing several problems. Watching pornography is contaminating minds and creating issues.”