The State Mental Health Task Force Chairman Ashok Pai has said that the Task Force has made recommendations to the State government to make sex education mandatory from the high school level.
Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Dr. Pai said that there is a need to educate students about the changes that take place in the human body. The curriculum is ready and sex education must be compulsorily given in high school against the background of increasing cases of sexual offences against children.
Helpline to prevent suicides
Dr. Pai said that it is planned to start a helpline to prevent suicides at the district level. The helpline at NIMHANS to prevent suicides has got good response, having received 2,100 calls till now.
Shortage of psychiatrists
Dr. Pai said that in all the 30 districts of the State there are psychiatrists but according to the World Health Organisation there should be one psychiatrist for one lakh population. Around 70-80 lakh people in the State are suffering from mental health problems but “we do not have psychiatrists according to the population.”
Chatting too much on the mobile phones is a symptom of mental illness, he said. People who are too much into Facebook, chatting, and video calling also need mental healthcare, he added.
District Health Officer Shashikala, District Surgeon Eshwaraiah and others were present.
