12.43 per cent need psychiatric aid: Study

Thiruvananthapuram: One in every eight persons (12.43 per cent) in the state has  mental illness requiring psychiatric intervention, according to a  survey conducted by the Kerala State Mental Health Authority and National Health Mission in five districts. Dr D. Raju, secretary, State Mental Health Authority, handed over the report to Health Minister K.K. Shylaja here on Saturday. The survey found that the most common mental disorder was depression. Those above 40 years of age were at higher risk for common mental disorder.

However, higher education, employment and better income were protective factors.  The survey in Kollam, Idukki, Palakkad , Wayanad and Kasargod found that 3.6 per cent people  aged 18 years and above had alcohol-related health problems. But the overall prevalence of alcohol-related problems was 1.46 per cent. Almost half of those with clinically significant problems with alcohol abuse seem  to be having severe problems and this pattern existed   in all districts. Alcoholic problems were reported more in Idukki district. The prevalence of dementia and cognitive impairment was more than 10.48 per cent among 60-plus age.  

The study found that higher age and  female gender were the risk factors for cognitive impairment while better education and employment were protective factors. According to the survey,  75 per cent of the mental health patients were getting treatment. The remaining 25 per cent are not able to avail of treatment mainly because of social stigma, interrupted supply of medicines and financial problems. The majority of the patients depend on government hospitals for treatment (42.88 per cent ) and 29.24 per cent on private hospitals. The prevalence of intellectual disability was 0.21 per cent while epilepsy accounted for 0.23 per cent.

Most families approached during the study suggested more facilities for vocational training , day care and residential care as part of rehabilitation. The minister said that one of the biggest challenges faced by the state was the high suicide rate. Efforts would be made to bring down the suicide rate from 24.9 per lakh population to 16/lakh to achieve high health indicators by 2030 as part of the UN programme on sustainable development goals. She said the government had constituted 13 working groups headed by experts to achieve the targets in various health issues, including maternal mortality, infant mortality, lifestyle diseases, psychiatric ailments, communicable diseases, chronic health problems and alcohol problems.