Mangalore : Additional District and Sessions Judge B K Naik inaugurated the ‘World Mental Health Day’ jointly organized by Department of Psychiatry KMC and Wenlock District Hospital, District Legal Services Authority and Manaswini Mangalore at RAPCC conference hall, Wenlock Hospital on October 10, Friday.

Speaking on the occasion he said that, Indian Constitution has provided fundamental rights to every human being and it also applies to the mentally ill person. Hence they must be treated like human beings and not as animals and must provide the benefits they deserve.

Naik also said that when a person becomes mentally ill, his family members must take care of him and provide suitable treatment before he is confronted with major problem.

When a person suffers from mental disorders his entire life will be in misery. Most of the time people hesitate to take the mental patient to the hospital. The treatment can cure the patient at the initial stage but it may find difficult to cue or take more time if found too late.

Delivering the key note address, Dr Ravish Thunga, professor and HOD of Psychiatry, AJ Institute of Medical Science, briefed on the ‘Schizophrenia’ problem and said that long-term mental disorder brings changes in thought, emotion, and behaviour, leading to faulty perception and inappropriate actions.

He also said that there are three major things to keep in mind when there is a Schizophrenia patient near to them is critical comments, hospitality and over involvement.

Schizophrenia patients must be provided with good hospitality and must avoid getting attached to him. Society and family members must also avoid throwing harsh comments on them during the recovery treatment, he added.

Ganesha B, Senior Civil Judge and member secretary of District Legal Services Authority, released the ‘Mental Health Awareness Leaflet’ on the occasion.

KMC medical college students staged a play on dealing with the Schizophrenia patients.

District health and family welfare officer Dr H S Shivakumar, District surgeon and superintendent of Wenlock hospital Dr Rajeshwari Devi H R, assistant professor at KMC and HAMO, department of Psychiatry, Wenlock hospital Dr Caroline P D’Souza, consultant psychiatrist Dr Sunil Kumar and others were present.