'Treat the mentally ill with respect'

People are not aware of the legal provisions available to them, says Judge

She was speaking after inaugurating the World Mental Health Day celebrations organised by Legal Aid Services Authority and Lawyers’ Association at the Government Women’s First Grade College.

“While physical ailments are treated in the society, mental illnesses are looked down upon and people still resort to superstitious methods of treatments. Instead, there is need to understand the problems of the mentally ill and help integrate them into the society,”  Rajeshwari opined.

The programme was organised to make people aware about the legal aid available for the mentally ill patients. Senior Advocate B R Srinath, who was also present at the occasion, said that it was imperative to maintain mental health in order succeed in life.

“People are not aware of the legal provisions available and they lack the desire to fight for their rights, this is one of the main reasons for most of the problems in the society,” he added. DySP V Govindaiah spoke and Dr Sunil Chauhan from Kolar’s S N R Hospital gave a talk on mental illness.

Principal of the college, Prof G Krishna Murthy presided over the function. Judge Mudhigoudar, Lawyers’ Association President Narayana Reddy, senior lawyers Papireddy and Byrareddy were present.

Mulbagal

“The mentally ill should be taken care with lot of love and society should take initiative to provide social and economic security to them,” said Mulbagal Civil Court Judge K M Rajashekar.

He was speaking after inaugurating the World Mental Health Day celebrations at Government Hospital here on Wednesday. The programme was jointly organised by Legal Service Committee and taluk unit of Advocates Association.

Though a revolution as occurred in the field of medicine, there isn’t significant development in medicines treating mentally ill, lamented Rajashekar. Legal Service Committee, taluk unit Secretary and Principal Civil Judge Nagaraje Gowda presided over the function.

Medical Officer Dr Ventakesh, taluk Advocates Association’s President K T Venkataramappa, lawyer M L Venkatesh, N Prabhakar, N P Raju and other participated in the programme.