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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Make polling hours 6am-7pm for May 7 LS polls, Karnataka BJP urges EC citing heatwave
Bengaluru, May 3: Citing the ongoing heatwave in the state, Karnataka BJP on Friday petitioned the Election Commission with a request to modify the polling hours to the 6am-7pm period in the 14 parliamentary constituencies in the state that goes to polls on May 7.
Polling is currently scheduled to be held in the second phase in the state in 14 segments in the northern districts between 7am to 6pm on May 7.
"It has become hard to come out and vote between hours 10.00 to 17.00 due to uncontrollable heat. The average heat in those parts (north Karnataka) covering 14 parliamentary constituencies are between 37 and 42 degree (Celsius). The mercury is rising at an alarming level and it would become hard for the electors to come out and vote," BJP's petition said.
The petition highlighted the alarming rise in temperatures, which are expected to go beyond 40 degree Celsius, and also stated that the number of voters over the age of 40 is high and that they are vulnerable to the heatwave.
"To keep up the good spirit of voting, necessary action should be taken," the BJP petition urged the Election Commission, saying, "In this background, it is requested to modify the time of voting in the 14 parliamentary constituencies from 06.00 to 19.00 hours on May 7".
Polling was held between 7 am and 6 pm during Karnataka's first phase of the Lok Sabha polls in 14 constituencies on April 26.
