Spinning charkha may have positive effect on mental health: Study
(Sourced from PTI)
Spinning charkha for 1-hour daily may improve concentration, multitasking abilities, patience and mind-body coordination of children and youth, a study claims. The study conducted by the Brain Behavior Research Foundation of India (BBRFI) in New Delhi analyzed the relevance of charkha (spinning-wheel) among children and youth in the society. The research was conducted for over a month on 30 individuals, 10-18 years of age.
For the research, pre and post training data were collected using brain mapping & Electroencephalogram (EEG). Subjects were also tested for psychological, personality and intelligence quotient (IQ) tests. The study saw positive results in all aspects of behavior, according to the research recently presented by Chairperson of BBRFI, Meena Mishra. It provides scientific foundation to anecdotal reports of benefits of charkha spinning, Mishra said.
The study was sponsored by Gandhi Darshan, Ministry of Culture. The event also marked the launch of BBRFI's Annual Magazine on mental health, 'Brain Behavior- Mind Matters'. The magazine talks about issues, approaches and prevailing commentary on mental health in India and across the world.
"Mental health is more important than physical health. At AIIMS we're actively looking to help family members of patients cope with trying and difficult times," said Rajesh Malhotra, AIIMS, New Delhi. Commenting on the status of mental health in India, Rajesh Sagar, Department Of Psychiatry, AIIMS, Delhi, said, "There is a great deal of stigma on mental health. We need to change this attitude."
The urgency of focus on mental-health in India can be pointed out with the fact that, one in four people in the world is likely to be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives, the researchers said. Around 450mn people currently suffer from such conditions, placing mental disorders among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide, they said.
Treatments are available, but nearly two-thirds of people with a known mental disorder never seek help from a health professional. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) stigma, discrimination and neglect, prevent care and treatment from reaching people with mental disorders.
