The Union Ministry of External Affairs is preparing for an evacuation of Indian citizens from Wuhan, the Chinese city beset by an outbreak of novel coronavirus which has infected thousands. The novel coronavirus, or 2019-nCov, has led to more than 4,000 infections at the time of writing with a death toll of 106. The Government […]
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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 […]
Indian teacher contracts coronavirus in China
As fears of the novel coronavirus present in China — as well as multiple other nations at the time of writing — spread, an Indian teacher working in the country has been announced as the first non-Chinese individual to contract the condition. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stepped back from declaring the situation […]
Could Eat Right India be India’s dietary salvation?
A report published in The Lancet has claimed that one in five deaths globally can trace its roots to poor nutrition. As stated by the report, “we are living in a time when the poor diet is a leading cause of thousands of deaths in India annually.” Could the Eat Right Movement be a means […]
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 […]
Should India really watch the next episode?
Many of us are familiar with the “are you still watching…” line after binge watching our favourite show on Netflix, sitting seven episodes in and having not moved from the spot for the last three hours. While the unhealthy nature of this lifestyle should be obvious, it is not uncommon. According to HealthifyMe, a mobile […]
Disadvantaged from birth, India’s silent problem
Health issues for many children may begin long before they are even born. As many as twenty percent of Indian children are born stunted according to data from UNICEF. Such revelations means that a significant proportion of the child population is born with a condition that is marked as a key risk factor not just […]
Rare disease policy deemed ‘Just an eye wash’
Advocacy groups for those suffering from rare diseases within India have voiced their disappointment regarding the National Policy for Rare Diseases 2020 Bill, arguing that – in many cases – the Bill offers no support to those affected by rare diseases at all. An estimated one in twenty Indians suffer from illnesses that full under […]
Duchenne muscular dystrophy breakthrough in India
The rare disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is manageable through medication, though current treatments are far beyond the budgets of many in India. This may be about to change due to one Indian research team. An estimated one in twenty Indians suffer from illnesses that full under the classification of “rare diseases”. Fifty percent of […]
Mental health issues: The genetic component
It is an established fact that genetics, at least in part, plays a role in the surge in diabetes cases in India. Could a genetic risk factor be playing a role in the increasing numbers of those affected by mental health issues too? A report published on Tuesday in the American Journal of Psychiatry by […]