Change attitude towards mentally ill people: Bhatia

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 10 (UNI) Kerala Governor R L Bhatia today stressed the need for developing an attitude to provide long care to the mentally-ill patients.

By developing such an attitude, the uncontrolled tendency of suicide could be checked in the state, he said, inaugurating an awareness programme ''Building Awareness--Reducing Risk: Mental Illness and Suicide,'' organised by the state Mental Health Institute in connection with the World Mental Health Day-2006 here.

Though the average national suicide rate stood at 11.2 per cent, it was 27.9 per cent in Kerala, he pointed out and said that it was the duty of everyone to save the state from the present alarming situation.

Presiding over the function, State Health Minister P K Sreemathy said the government had urged the Centre to include Wayanad in the Central Mental Health programme, being implemented in Thiruvananthapurm, Thrissur and Kannur.

Stating that mental heath problems and suicide was one of the greatest challenges faced by the state, she said more awareness programmes were needed.

UNI CGV ROY 1827