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New Delhi, March 22, 2022:
While mental health related complications have been one of the most prevalent yet underreported and ignored illnesses, the pandemic has just made this situation even worse. In addition to problems like denial, societal age old taboos and ignorance that usually cause delay in treatment, hesitancy to visit hospitals triggered by fear of COVID 19 became a larger issue with more and more patient suffering from mental disorders going unreported and unassisted. Ever since the onset of Covid-19, several reports have indicated worsening of mental health issues among individuals across all age groups. Loneliness, fear of infection, suffering and death for oneself and for loved ones, grief after bereavement and financial worries have all been cited as stressors leading to anxiety and depression.
With an alarming observation of rising cases of mental disorders, healthcare organizations and clinicians have been emphasizing on the importance of people acknowledging mental health related problems and seeking expert consultation through the platform of Tele-Psychiatry. In times when people are hesitant to visit hospitals to get consulted on mental disorders, Tele-Psychiatry is set to be a ray of hope. At Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, experts have observed an increase in the number of patients opting for consultation through virtual and electronic mediums over physical walk-in appointments which has made patients more comfortable to discuss their problems one on one in a controlled environment.
As, based on the data by World Health Organization (WHO), in India there are only 0.29 psychiatrists per 1 lakh population, as opposed to 11.9 in high-income countries. With a majority of the psychiatrists in India being concentrated in metros/major cities, tele psychiatry is an essential medium to reach the unreached and is very economical model as an interactive platform for both patient & clinician alike.
Speaking on the same Dr Sandeep Vohra, Senior Consultant Physiatrist, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, who is amongst the pioneers in the field of tele mental health in India, said,” Mental health problems in various age groups can be seen rising owing to the shift in the lifestyles of various people. WHO also reported in a recent study that the pandemic has triggered 25% increase in prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide. Be it kids, elderly or office going population the sudden shift from first social isolation due to COVID and now getting back to original schedules has taken a toll on mental health of many. Sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, erratic hunger patterns are a few of many symptoms being reported by the patients. In this situation tele psychiatry has come as a boon, because with virtual consultation there is a certain sense of comfort that the patients feel while addressing their concern sitting at his/home.
With such growing numbers of patients suffering from mental health disorders, tele-psychiatry shall definitely help in making expert consultation easily available across the country. Hopefully it shall add into the global aim of addressing mental health concerns and flattening the rising curve of the number of patients increasing.”
Tele-psychiatry is a feasible and acceptable option for patients despite net connectivity issues and a moderate technological know-how. It reduces the load on healthcare system in times of the pandemic and subsequently acts as a 24/7 available option for consulting experts. With great connectivity patients across the country can connect with experts without any hesitantly and can timely get diagnosed the concern for better treatment outcomes.
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