17th psychiatric conference: need for producing more occupational therapists stressed

The participants of 17th National Psychiatric Conference have emphasised the need of producing more psychiatrics, psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists to provide prompt care and cure to the increasing number of psychiatric patients in the country.
The participants emphasised this in their recommendations, prepared after concluding of two-day long conference here at a hotel on Sunday evening. Eminent psychiatrics from different parts of the country took part in the working sessions of the conference and discussed at length the topic of the conference 'Investment in mental health a national priority' with special reference to increasing number of psychiatric cases in the country.
The participants also recommended the upgrading of Sir Cowasjee Jehangir Institute of Psychiatry with recognition from CPSP for proper psychiatric training of the learners.
They also sought co-operation from print and electronic media so that awareness could be provided to common men of the country about mental illness so that the people could adopt preventive measures by approaching to concerned consultants of the disease.
The Pakistan Psychiatric Society also made a unanimous decision of focusing rural community of the country particularly Sindh in order to control the increasing number of mental disease due to different reasons.
During two days long conference, organised by Pakistan Psychiatric Society, the speakers also underlined the need of having at least one psychiatric unit in each district of the country to provide adequate treatment to the patients of mental diseases.
Pakistan Psychiatric Society President Dr Muhammad Riaz Bhatti, Head of the Military College of Psychiatry Hospital Islamabad, Brigadier Dr Mowbat Rana, Head of the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre, Dr Mussarrat Hussain, Medical Superintendent Sir Cowasji Jehangir Institute of Psychiatry Dr Captain Mir Muhammad Shaikh, Chairman of the Psycon Psychiatrist Secretary Dr Abdul Memon and Secretary Organising Committee Dr Darya Khan Laghari while addressing the participants of the conference shared valuable information about the causes and treatment of the mental diseases.
They informed that over 1.6 million population of the country was suffering different kinds of psychiatric disorders and it was the need of the hour that the government should consider the fact with serious concern and ensure the appointment of trained psychiatrists and nurses in each public and private hospital.
The mental and psychological disorders, particularly schizophrenia, were chronic recurrent illnesses that required a comprehensive and long-term medical care, Dr Muhammad Riaz Bhatti informed.
He said that management of severe mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and others mental diseases requires immediate attention and the investment in the mental health must be considered a national priority as being attained by other chronic diseases.
Head of the Military College of Psychiatry Hospital Islamabad, Brigadier Dr Mowbat Rana expressed grave concern over increasing signs of psychological and mental disorders among the people particularly in children.
He informed that survey revealed that five to 10 percent of the children of the country were suffering different kinds of disorders, which must be addressed at the primary level.
The detailed survey of the schools, colleges, universities and Madaras of different parts of the country also revealed the signs of psychological and mental disorders among 10 percent of the students, adding that the issue could be addressed only through combine efforts of parents, teachers and doctors.
Head of the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre (JPMS), Dr Mussarrat Hussain also called upon the education and health ministries to arrange trained psychiatrist in each public and private sector so that the psychological and mental disorders among the peoples could be addressed at the primary.
There was also the dire need of establishing rehabilitation centres for mentally retarded children, he added. The Medical Superintendent Sir Cowasjee Jehangir Institute of Psychiatry Dr Captain Mir Muhammad Shaikh said the adopting preventive measures in controlling all mental diseases and current psychiatrist practices was essential to knock out the silent killers.
The patients should also ensure controlling of these diseases with healthy lifestyle and proper medical treatment, he added. The Chairman of the Psycon psychiatrist Secretary Dr Abdul Hameed Memon who was also the chairman of organising committee of the conference informed that Pakistan was the ninth populous country, which was standing at 34th among the 37 low -income countries.
He emphasised the need of enhancing the budget allocation in health sector so that the people could get at least basic health facilities at their nearest. He said that increasing number of mental disease required special attention in establishing psychiatric rehabilitation centres in each district of the country. Organising Secretary Dr Darya Khan Leghari underlined the need of objective of organising the conference, adding that alarming number of psychiatric patients in the country must be addressed on priority.