Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan has paid tribute to a resident doctor at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi, following his death by suicide. “Shocked & distressed to hear of the painful death of young & most brilliant Dr Anurag Kumar, Junior Resident at AIIMS Delhi,” […]
mental health
Coronavirus takes its toll on India’s mental health
Mental health issues and suicide rates have seen a notable increase in India since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. The Indian Psychiatry Society (IPS) said a recent study showed a twenty percent rise in mental health disorder cases, affecting at least one in five Indians. “The lockdown has had a massive impact on the […]
Childhood illness and mental health
Children who experience chronic health issues in early life are far more likely than their healthy counterparts to experience negative mental health effects throughout their adolescent years, claims a recent study. For India and its patchy track record for child health, this could have dire implications. The study, published in the journal Development and Psychopathology, […]
Autism in India: Why we need awareness
As April 2nd marks World Autism Awareness Day, there is a prime opportunity to talk about autism in India – a health issue that is too often overlooked. An estimated three million people live with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) on the Indian subcontinent according to a 2018 paper. That report notes that “there has been […]
Mental health conditions on the rise
A spike in reports of Indians being affected by mental health conditions has been reported amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, according to a survey conducted by the Indian Psychiatry Society. In the week since a 21-day lockdown was declared by the Union Government, the number of people reporting mental health issues has increased by fifteen to […]
Mental health helpline amidst COVID-19
A mental health helpline is being launched to support Indians during the COVID-19 lockdown. Indians can avail a consultation by the helpline, which is reachable toll-free on 08046110007. Launched by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), based in Karnataka state capital Bengaluru, the mental health helpline will serve to address “mental and […]
Psychiatric hospitals: The Indians ‘illegally detained’
In 36 psychiatric hospitals across 24 states, thousands of Indians continue to stay even after reporting positive treatment outcomes according to a recent report published in The Times of India. This is what a petition filed before the Supreme Court by advocate Guarav Kumar Bansal alleges. “Holding [patients] indefinitely in the hospital amounts to illegal […]
Depression, suicide, and pollution
When considering the link between exposure to air pollution and health problems, mental health may not seem an obvious connection to draw to breathing toxic air. However, research has indicated a link between the two in the past – and a recent paper indicates that exposure to air pollution increases the risk of developing depression […]
‘No conclusive evidence’ – Government on pollution, disease and deaths
Air pollution is virtually universally acknowledged as a public health emergency in India, with swathes of the country choking beneath blankets of toxic air. However, a Government minister has informed lawmakers that there is a dearth of evidence to prove a link between pollution, disease, and deaths. “There is no conclusive data available in the […]
Suicide risk does not increase after an abortion: Research
The notion that undergoing an abortion increases a woman’s suicide risk is not supported by evidence, according to recent research. A study published in The Lancet examined data of 523,380 Danish women between the ages of eighteen and 36, finding that whilst women who undergo an abortion have a higher risk of first-time non-fatal suicide […]