More people seeking help with mental health at South Goa district hospital

Times of India | 4 hours ago | 11-10-2022 | 06:49 am

PANAJI: Each day, the South Goa district hospital sees around 45-50 persons with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia and other mental health issues. Two psychiatrists and one counsellor appointed under the national mental health programme for South Goa district cater to those visiting the hospital on three days during the week. Two psychiatric bond doctors also assist. On the other three days of the week the team visits the health centres in the periphery and covers eight primary and community health centres in the south. The experts have been seeing increased cases of depression and people presenting with suicidal tendencies. “We see patients whose depression has been left untreated and who have reached the stage of hopelessness, helplessness and eventually end up attempting suicide. Family members sometimes dismiss their complaints and don’t take their symptoms seriously,” said consultant psychiatrist at the hospital, Dr Mamata Borker e Barbosa. “Stigma continues to be prevalent and instead of seeking help the family feels their name will get spoiled and prefer to wait and watch, hoping that their loved ones will heal with time,” she said. Unhealthy diets, lack of exercise, loneliness, family and marriage problems, high levels of stress at work, childhood abuse, trauma or neglect as well as experiencing discrimination and stigma can contribute to poor mental health. Depression in school going students and teenagers is also being seen and is found to be associated with childhood trauma, parental problems, abuse by alcoholic parents, etc. Family, relatives, teachers and siblings who closely interact with someone undergoing depression could be the first to see the red flags. “These signs should not be neglected especially if someone has attempted suicide in the past,” Barbosa said. People with psychosis, who hear voices, fear someone is out to kill them, hallucinate and experience paranoia also seek treatment at the hospital. For those with substance abuse issues ranging from tobacco, alcohol and other drugs, the hospital has an addiction treatment facility (ATF) where assistance is provided to those seeking deaddiction treatment. The facility of admission of these cases is also offered at the hospital. Female victims of domestic abuse can avail services of the crisis intervention centre at both district hospitals too.

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