Speaking at a function to observe World Mental Health Day, organised by the District Legal Services Authority, Health and Family Welfare Department, District Government Hospital, National Rural Health Mission, Udupi Bar Association, and A V Baliga Charities here, he said “the department was training medical officers and paramedical staff in treating persons suffering from mental ailments at primary health centres’ level in the district.  The theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day is  “Mental health in primary care: enhancing treatment and promoting mental health”.

About 100 medical officers had been trained in treating mental ailments in March this year. The paramedical staff had also been given a day’s training in September. Next week 60 health workers will be trained in this regard in Karkala.

Dr A V Baliga Memorial Hospital Medical Director Dr P V Bhandary said country has around 4,000 psychiatrists and 2,500 hospitals treatment mental ailments. Around 1,500 social workers are working towards it. There is only one psychiatrist for one lakh population.

Chief Civil Judge (senior division) Savitri V Bhat, Bar Association President Vijay Hegde, trustee of the IMA Udupi Ravindranath Shetty, and director of the Nitte Rural Mental Health Centre Naveenchandra Shettywere present.