BHUBANESWAR: A conference on ‘Disadvantages of women due to mental disorders and loopholes in framing mental health laws’ was held at a city hotel Saturday.
The conference ‘Antarmann 2019’ was organised by state-based ‘People’s Forum’. Niten Chandra, Principal Secretary, SSEPD, participated as the chief guest. Meanwhile, Gitanjali Batmanabane, Director of AIIMS, joined as the guest of honour while Neel Madhav Rath of SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, was the chief speaker of the occasion.
Delivering the keynote address Dibyajoti Pattanaik, Director of People’s Forum said, “Mental health of a person determines his/her contribution to the community and the society. It’s estimated that in India the economic loss due to mental health conditions is 1.03 trillion dollars.”
The event focused on the issue of overflowing rehabilitation centres. Questions were raised whether these centres are the appropriate places for addressing mental health. The conference also discussed an alternate solution for destitution against institutionalisation.
Presenting viewpoints on destitution, Sarbani Das Roy, Secretary of Iswar Sankalpa, said, “In the case of rehabilitation versus deinstitutionalisation, is the former the only option for destitution? An alternate solution should be found.”
