15 crore children suffering from mental health problems: Senior Paediatrician

A CORRESPONDENT

DHUBRI: The 82nd birthday anniversary of Dr PL Oswal was observed with two-day programmes including an art competition and an awareness meeting on the mental health of children and role of parents. It held on the occasion of Children's Day in the Mahabir Chilarai Park and Dhubri Lions Club Auditorium on November 13 and 14 respectively. The programmes were organized by Dr.Pannalal Oswal Memorial Committee.

Speaking on 'Mental health of the children and role of parents' in the memorial meeting, a senior paediatrician of repute, Dr. Tapas Mazumdar spoke at a length on the growing number of mental health problems among the children and expressed deep concern over it and sought it to be addressed by parents. " It is really a matter of concern that 15 crore children above the age of 13 years may suffer mental health-related problems as surveyed in 2015 across the 9 states of the country which include Assam, West Bengal, Kerala,Tamil Nadu, Gujrat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh," Dr. Mazumdar said.

Dr. Mazumdar in his deliberation also said that this prevalence of mental health problems are found to be more in urban than rural. Alcohol abuse is found in 4.6 percent of people over the age of 18 who have suicidal tendencies, while 7.3 percent of children have mental health problems.

This is high time that awareness should be created among the parents as how to identify the symptoms of mental illness and immediately bring them to physicians for remedy and cure, Dr. Mazumdar said. The memorial meeting was presided over by working president of Memorial Committee, J.M.Surana and it was anchored by Prof Dhruba Kumar Mahato.

A speech on the life and activities of Dr. Oswal was delivered by the principal of B.N.College, Dr. Dhruba Chakrabortty while secretary general of memorial committee, Bimal Oswal highlighted the socio-welfare activities carried by the memorial committee since its inception in 2000. Earlier on November 13, an art competition was organised, wherein nearly 1000 students took part.

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