JOIN USAs per the direction of Karnataka High Court, Dakshina Kannada District Administration, Department of Health and Social Welfare, Karnataka State Mental Health Academy, Department of Judicial Administration, District Legal Service Authority, District Bar Council, KMC Medical College, Mangalore City Corporation and District Wenlock Hospital will jointly organise a district-level workshop to create awareness on mental health, at Sri T V Raman Pai Convention Centre in Mangalore, on March 30, at 10 am.
Speaking to presspersons on Friday, KMC Medical College Mental Health Department Head Dr Ravish Tunga said that awareness jathas will commence from District Wenlock Hospital, District Court Complex, S.D.M Law College and police commissioner’s office, at 8.30 am. Karnataka High Court Judge N Kumar will inaugurate the workshop, at 10 am.
DC A B Ibrahim, Police Commissioner R Hithendra, Zilla Panchayat CEO Tulasi Maddineni, SP Dr Sharanappa S D, KMC Medical College Dean Dr M Venkatraya Prabhu, S.D.M Law College Principal Dr B K Ravindra and District Bar Council Chairman Ashok Ariga will be the guests.
The formal function will be followed by sessions on ‘Mental health, symptoms and treatment’ by Dr Somshekar Bijjala, on ‘Alcoholism and drugs habit’ by Dr Ravish Tunga, on ‘Mental health and blind beliefs’ by Dr V K Bhat and on ‘Sexuality, marriage, divorce and mental problems’ by Dr T S Satyanarayana Rao.
Venkatesh and team of Nimahns will stage two short plays on mental health. An interaction programme will be held at 4 pm, and High Court Judge N Kumar will chair the event. As a part of the programme, renowned psychiatrists Dr B K Arun Kumar and Dr Olinda Pereira will be felicitated.
‘Public participation important’
Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim said that in the district, there are around 15,000 disabled people and out of them around 5,000 are suffering with mental illness. There is a need for increasing awareness about mental diseases and available facilities for the patients. The moral perception of society should change and it needs community participation. Sensitising public about the matter is the main objective, he added.
District and Sessions Judge B A Prakash, District Health Officer Dr Shivakumar, Wenlock Hospital District Surgeon Dr Rajeshwaridevi H R, Psychiatrists Dr Sunil Kumar, Dr Satish Rao and others were present.