Impart Knowledge to Dispel Fear

by DR MEENACSI MARTINS
Posted on 2008-10-10
Life’s challenges have thrown up new issues. People are facing problems that were not heard of in the earlier times. New age lifestyles have conjured their own set of side effects. Nuclear families and living in the fast lane are adding up to the woes of the people.
October 10th is commemorated as the World Mental Health day. The endeavor is to generate knowledge and to dispel fear. There is a need to create understanding and to alter the perception of the disease.
In earlier times, mental illness was thought to be demonical possession. After medication became common, it was still feared because of its symptoms and the prejudice that the illness has instigated down the centuries.
An individual suffering from psychosis exhibits change in behaviour depending on the disease. Knowledge of the symptoms could aide in getting timely assistance. It is a possibility that due to diminished capacity the individual may not be able to attend to responsibilities as before or even realise that he or she is suffering from a mental illness.
But, that in no way should come in between him or her and the right to treatment and later, the right to livelihood and the right to dignity.
I have known of a lady who was harassed in her department, her pay held up and she was laughed at and tormented because of her change in behaviour. Unfortunately, her paranoia was so severe that she could not be persuaded to take treatment. While her condition worsened , she received no medical help.
It is most unfortunate that our society provides little scope to cushion a person from the effects of mental illness. There is a need for emergency services with paramedical professional to attend to such cases. Due medical treatment needs to be facilitated with a policy to adjust the recovered in the society, perhaps in a different capacity, but with the opportunity to earn a decent living with dignity. There are several cases where this is not a possibility.
However, the Honourable Mr Justice K Chandru on the occasion of the Mental Health day last year, gave a significant Judgment before the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court. The case was of an ‘anganwadi’ worker terminated from services because of mental illness. The District Project Officer’s recommendations were, “To suspend the petitioner of the unit ‘anganwadi’ temporarily till she recovers from her insane mental condition.”
The Honourable Court directed the Dean of a Government hospital to observe and conduct an examination of the petitioner’s mental state. The certificate by the psychiatrists therein read. “She was suffering from paranoid schizophrenic illness and all her symptoms are well controlled with drugs and she is in lucid interval. Under the supervision of a mental health professional and effective antipsychotic drugs and mood stabilizers, she will be able to carry out her official responsibilities.”
Based on this, the Hon’ Judge directed that she be reinstated in her original place with full back wages and with all attendant benefits.
There are rising incidences of mental illness in the society which command understanding, time and compassion as well as the backing of a strong policy and participatory approach.