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National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, (NIMHANS) Bangaluru states that 5% of the population suffer from depression. World Health Organization (WHO) warns that there is an increase mental health problems like depression and anxiety disorders. The need for educating the people regarding the mental health problems and the availability of treatment modalities possibly in every medical colleges in India has to gain momentum. Still many confuse mental health conditions to spiritual ailments and one could witness many victims are left in the corridors of religious places like temples or durgas. These victims are chained and left alone to suffer. Once fire had taken toll of such victims. The lack of awareness and the social stigma attached to such ill health adds up to the complexities of the problem. Even professional pressures lead to various forms of syndromes like Impaired physician syndrome due to lack of interest in the profession and inability to further their professional careers. Mental asylums in many places lack basic amenities and those places require humanitarian approach. Many of the victims are ill-treated and even abused. I had written about a parent who in spite of knowing that his wife is mentally compromised took it as a mission of his life take care of his wife and a child born to her. Such a personal care had created a great bond between the husband and wife. When the husband met with an accident with a fracture of head of femur the same wife...
Show MoreCompeting Interests: None declared. - Page navigation anchor for What does it mean to “reduce stigma”?What does it mean to “reduce stigma”?
http://www.cmaj.ca/content/190/2/E34
------and much work has been done to reduce stigma ...
“Reduce” stigma is a relatively new phrase. I did not encounter it after WW II as “reduce” the stigma of Jews, nor as part of the Women's Movement as “reduce” the stigma of rape.
I wonder who designed it, what their purpose was, and why they want to keep any?
I am equally curious about why it is so easily repeated. Is there indeed a purpose, a power, in using that term, “stigma”, a negative power that interferes not only with research, but public comprehension, and creates public apprehension?
Harold A. Maio, retired mental health editor
Competing Interests: None declared.