NE NEWS SERVICE
AHMEDABAD, OCT 9
In order to unify all voices in moving the mental health investment agenda for increased focus and access to mental health and thereby making mental health a reality for all, Gyanjyot Public School, Bopal in collaboration with PRSI – Ahmedabad Chapter & Kaleidoscope on Friday organized an online awareness drive, a day ahead of World Mental Health Day.
Initiating the discussion, Anita Baviskar, Principal, Gyanjyot Public School, Bopal, said, “Today the world is confronted by the unprecedented mental health consequences and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on billions of people. World Mental Health Day provides an opportunity to the experts working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide. I am thankful to PRSI- Ahmedabad Chapter for joining hands with us and inviting some expert panelists to talk with our teachers and students and to spread happiness and knowledge amongst them.”
Sweety Gosar, a renowned graphologist and handwriting expert from Genius Brain Academy, said, “I believe there is a genius hidden in each and every person. There is always a chance that due to some circumstances, experiences, and conditioning a person’s potential subsides. By using some techniques this can be resolved. During this period of Mental Stress and depression, we want to bring out the potential of an individual and make them able to face difficulties and solve it without frustration or depression and move on with the best of their confidence and positivity.”
Secretary of State Mental Health Authority Dr. Ajay Chauhan said, “Due to the COVID-19 situation, anxiety is increasing and people develop a fear of the disease being transmitted. Due to anxiety, thoughts come to mind, and when these thoughts keep repeating it leads to compulsive behaviour. OCD patients are more susceptible to this.”
According to Dr. Chauhan, before the lockdown, the hospital would receive around 350 patients of OCD which has been reduced to around 100. And earlier, around 5% of patients in OPD would be cases of OCD but since lockdown, they constitute around 10-12% of the total patients. Of these, 50% of patients show a relapse or heightened condition.
Canine Behaviorist and Pet Training Expert Salomi Gupte shared, “We are an ethically conscious venture that provides Animal Assisted Therapy and Comfort Dog Program with the assistance of our therapy dogs who have been trained to provide affection, comfort and support. A mere interaction with a therapy dog can help release one’s “happy hormones” associated with good health and feelings of well-being, such as endorphins and oxytocin, while simultaneously decreasing the stress hormone, cortisol. It works like magic in alleviating depression, loneliness, and low morale. With the amount of stress and anxiety most of us are experiencing today, our therapy dogs can bring some joy and laughter in your lives. We bring Animal Assisted Therapy and Comfort Dog Program as a brand new concept in Gujarat and we are certain that our therapy dogs, Dr. Kulfi, Dr. Maska, and Dr. Malai would be the new vaccines for Mental Health and Stress.”
PRSI Ahmedabad Chapter secretary Subhojit Sen anchored the programme.
