The President inaugurates 4-dayWorld congress on Mental health today

New Delhi: With inauguration of 4-day World Congress in Delhi, mental health has assumed the focus as never before in India. Its aim is to bring mental illnesses in the mainstream of health deliberations and wipe out the stigma attached to it.

World Congress on mental health organized by WFMH (World Federation for Mental Health), the largest global alliance of mental health professionals, national health associations, NGOs, policy experts, and other institutions, was inaugurated today by Ram NathKovind, the President of India. The conference is being held for the first time in the SAARC region. India had to lobby hard for this Congress. About 1000 delegates including 300 from abroad are participating in the Congress.

Giving warning about the impending mental illnesses epidemic in the country, President, Ram Nath Kovind, in his address said, ‘The world congress was the need of the hour. With 65% of the population comprising people under the age of 35 years and the increasing incidence of mental health disorders among the young, India can afford to look other way. Some of the biggest challenges that hinder accessible mental healthcare in India include widespread stigma, denial and shortage of doctors.’

The president stressed on the importance of striking a public-private partnership to cope with the situation. He added that the government has already started a programme under which 22 centres across the country catering to mental health patients have been opened. He concluded by highlighting the importance of telemedicine in bridging the gap between patients to doctors and congratulated the conference organizers for putting together a spectacular show.