Focus on psychiatry in India

Abstract

India is a country with a population of over 1 billion, and immense diversity in the languages spoken, levels of literacy, and social and cultural practices. Organising mental health services for this predominantly rural population is indeed a daunting task. Compounding this problem are low budgetary resources, the presence of competing and conflicting healing systems, scarcity of mental health personnel, ‘brain drain’, and the stigma of seeking help for problems related to the mind. This paper looks at the mental health scene in India with respect to services and research. It deals with conditions such as schizophrenia, acute psychoses, minor mental morbidity and drug misuse, highlighting aspects unique to the Indian scene. Indian families exhibit great tenacity in caring for relatives who are ill, and are a great resource in treatment and rehabilitation.