Workshop to cure mental illness through Yoga opposed

A few practitioners and consultants of modern scientific medicine and members of Indian Medical Association (IMA) have criticised and opposed the proposed IMA workshop at IMA House in Bengaluru on July 8, comprising presentations and orations by Isha Yoga Foundation, Banjara Academy, Laughter Yoga and Art of Living Foundation.

Apparently, the IMA Initiative for Emotional Health & Emotional Well-Being of Medical Students and Doctors in India is supposedly considering the increased rate of mental illness and even suicides among young medicos.

In a press release, a group of well-known doctors in the state, said that the IMA represents the practitioners of evidence-based modern scientific medicine and it is appalling that the IMA is promoting unproven and unrelated methods such as Yoga, meditation, laughter yoga etc, for the management of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts, and thereby, is denying the well-proven methods in modern scientific medicine to treat and prevent stress, depression, anxiety etc.

Stating that severe depression and suicidal thoughts require urgent attention and treatment only from psychiatrists and no one else, the release stated that a recent systematic review and meta-analysis has also conclusively shown the efficacy and acceptability of antidepressants in the treatment of depressive disorders.

The effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy in preventing suicides has also been proven. Several studies have been conducted on depression, anxiety and stress among medical students and have comprehensively detailed the causes and relevant remedial measures.

On the other hand, there is so far no conclusive evidence to support the use of Yoga or meditation in the prevention or treatment of mental disorders, and these methods do not even find a mention in any of the evidence-based protocols for prevention or treatment of mental disorders or for the promotion of mental health. The National Mental Health Programme and the National Mental Health Policy 2014 also do not mention yoga or meditation.

Appealing to the Indian Medical Association to stop the promotion of Yoga and meditation for prevention and management of mental disorders, the doctors said that to instead strengthen the evidence-based, modern scientific initiatives as envisaged by the WHO, National Mental Health Programme etc, for the management of mental disorders and promotion of mental health.

The press release is signed by Dr B Srinivas Kakkilaya, consultant physician, Mangaluru; Dr K S Madhava Rao, senior neuropsychiatrist, Mangaluru; Dr P Venkataraya Bhandary, senior neuropsychiatrist, Udupi; Dr Shashidhar Bilagi, senior neuropsychiatrist, Bengaluru; Dr Ravichandra Karkal, consultant neuropsychiatrist, Mangaluru; Dr Santosh Prabhu, consultant neuropsychiatrist, Mangaluru; Dr Yogananda Reddy, consultant paediatrician, Ballary; Dr Rakshit Kedambady, consultant neurologist, Mangaluru and Dr Prakash C Rao,
senior family physician, Bengaluru.