Deepika Padukone was right about depression: 31% BMC-hospital patients affected
In India's celebrity-heavy culture, if there's one actor who talked openly about a major mental illness, it's Deepika Padukone, who in 2015 shared her ordeal fighting depression. And yes, depression exists. A BMC report found out that a whopping 31% of patients got admitted to BMC-run Mumbai hospitals with psychological disorders, much ahead of those with high-BP, diabetes or even the infamous mass-killer dengue.
Dr Avinash Supe, Dean of Major BMC hospitals, said that since the past decade, there has been a 10% rise in the number of patients suffering from mental illness. The quantitative exercise was carried out from October 2015 to September 2017 following Municipal-Commissioner Ajoy Mehta's instruction. It surveyed all BMC's healthcare facilities: 175 dispensaries, 15 peripheral hospitals and 4 hospitals-KEM, Nair, Sion and Cooper.
The survey titled, "Study of the Morbidity Patterns in the MCGM healthcare facilities of City of Mumbai" did a sampling of over 73.74lakh patients admitted to BMC-run hospitals. The results were analyzed and discussed at a workshop held in LTMG Sion Hospital. The report has been submitted to BMC administration and Mehta will preside over a special meeting discussing the same.
"The findings will help policymakers take decisions to improve the health of residents of Mumbai in the light of changing morbidity patterns. They will also help in understanding the requirements of patients, pharmacists and doctors in healthcare centers," said a senior BMC official.
