Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR)
Mangalore, Mar 8: As part of the two-day seminar on 'Mental Illness, Treatment and Rehabilitation – A Multi Disciplinary Approach,' the first day's session was organized by 'DIYA', a medical and psychiatric forum of Dr M V Shetty College of Social Work at its campus in Vidyanagar here on Friday March 7.
On the occasion 'DIYA' was inaugurated by Dr Olinda Periera, founder principal of the School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya while the seminar was declared open by Fr Patric Rodrigues, the director of Father Muller's Charitable Institutions (FMCI).
'Strong emotional support is required for a mentally challenged person to recover from his ailment,' informed Dr Ashok Pai, eminent psychiatrist and director of Manasa Nursing Home, Shimoga in his keynote address. According to him psychiatric social workers were ambassadors of psychiatry who act as a link between community and psychiatrists. These workers should be responsible for bringing back people into the main stream of society, he opined.
Further, he added that the services of a social worker should not be confined only to campuses and institutions. Stating cases of blind belief in ancient traditions like nude services (bethale sever) prevalent in some rural regions, he inferred that the people here were exploited to a large extent in the name of religion.
Giving a different view-point, Dr Pai pointed out that even religious priests, soothsayers and exorcists play a crucial role in treatment of certain cases, if a patient is a staunch believer of traditions. Therefore he opined 'If a mentally challenged patient has a deep-rooted belief in any of his tradition, then he will not listen or trust psychiatrists.'
Also on the occasion Dr. Ravish Tunga, professor and head, Department of Psychiatry (DOP), KMC in the city spoke on major psychiatric disorders, while Dr. Supriya Hegde, asst. professor, DOP, KMC Mangalore, spoke on legal literacy in mental health for professionals and care givers.
Dr Sathish Rao, professor and head of the DOP handled a session on 'Medical Intervention: Importance in Treatment of Mental Illness.'
The function was presided over by Dr M Ramgopal Shetty, founder secretary of Dr M V Shetty Memorial Trust. Also present on the occasion was Suma Rai, principal of the college and Prakash Amin, programme coordinator, amongst others.