People having mental issues have increased in past 10 years: Minister K Sudhakar
Bengaluru, Dec 9: Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar on Friday said the number of people having mental issues has increased in the past 10 years.
Speaking at the Brain Health Initiative programme organised at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurological Sciences (NIMHANS), he said, "A person can be considered completely healthy only if his/her mental health is also good. The number of people suffering from neurological and mental health issues is increasing since the past 10 years," Sudhakar, who himself is a medical professional, said.
"According to statistics, about seven to eight per cent of deaths are due to mental health and brain related issues," the Minister told the gathering.
The fluctuation in mental health of a person creates problems not only to his physical health but also the society at large, he explained.
Sudhakar informed the audience that the Government of India is conducting a national campaign on mental illness through the T-MANAS Tele-counseling platform.
The T-Manas platform launched by the Central government was based on the E-Manas platform started by Karnataka earlier, he added.
The State government is already doing a pilot project in Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Bengaluru Rural districts with the help of NIMHANS, Sudhakar said adding that a plan has been made to make this service available in all parts of the state in the coming days.
The Primary Health Centre doctors are given three months training in counselling and treating mental health issues. In the coming days, auxiliary nurses and midwives, community health officers and ASHA workers will also be trained to counsel and treat those in distress, Sudhakar said.
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There's been a lapse in filing nominations, may be on my part: Manu Bhaker on Khel Ratna furore
New Delhi, Dec 24: Paris Olympics' double bronze-medallist Manu Bhaker on Tuesday admitted that "there has been a lapse may be on my part" while filing nominations for this year's National Sports Awards amid a raging controversy over her exclusion from the list of Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna awardees.
A day after the sports ministry had to do damage control by insisting that the list of awardees is yet to be finalised, the 22-year-old pistol ace took to social media to clarify her position on not being among those recommended for the country's highest sporting honour.
"With regards to ongoing issue for my nomination for the most prestigious Khel Ratna award -- I would like to state that as an athlete my role is to play and perform for my country.
"I believe there has been a lapse, maybe on my part while filing for the nomination which is being corrected," Bhaker wrote on X.
The Haryana shooter said her aim is to perform for the country and it would not change whether she gets an award or not.
This was after her father Ramkishan Bhaker and personal coach Jaspal Rana stated that the snub had affected her morale and drive to perform for the country.
"Awards and recognition keeps me motivated but are not my goal," she asserted.
"Irrespective of the award I shall remain motivated to win more medals for my country. It is a request to everyone, please do not speculate on this," she said.
Rana and Ramkishan lambasted the sports ministry and the selection committee for overlooking her despite her monumental achievements.
However, the list is yet to be finalised as per the sports ministry, which said she is likely to be there when the names are finally revealed in a few days' time.
It is reliably learnt that men's hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and Paralympic gold-winning high jumper Praveen Kumar have been short-listed for the Khel Ratna along with 30 Arjuna awardees, 17 of them from para disciplines.
The awards selection committee is headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice V Ramasubramanian and also includes former women's hockey captain Rani Rampal, boxer Vijender Singh, and cricket great Anil Kumble among others.
The committee is mandated to consider those who file their applications but if required, it is also empowered to discuss names which do not feature in that list.
Manu's exclusion was a shock due to the fact that her historic Olympic performance came just a few months back and is still fresh in public memory.
The youngster is the first athlete from independent India to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympics.
She won her bronze medals in the 10m air pistol individual and 10m air pistol mixed team (with Sarabjot Singh) events in Paris.
— Manu Bhaker🇮🇳 (@realmanubhaker) December 24, 2024
