Panaji: On World Schizophrenia Day, observed on May 24, the Telemanas cell at South Goa appealed to people to seek treatment early.
“People don’t usually seek help for disorders like schizophrenia due to stigma and misconceptions in society,” stated consultant at the Telemanas cell Dr Sneha Pokle, at a program held at the South Goa district hospital to raise awareness on mental health disorders.
Medication is not enough to treat those with schizophrenia, said psychiatrist and programme officer of the district mental health programme Dr Shilpa Pandya.
“They need the empathy, support and love of the family. It’s not enough that they get treatment and stay at home, they must also be able to lead functional lives, have jobs and not be a burden for family and society,” she said.
People with schizophrenia are more vulnerable to exploitation. “Their perception is itself flawed but people feel they’re acting the way they do on purpose and don’t realise they have a mental health disorder that is beyond their control,” she added.
There are cases where families abandon those with schizophrenia leaving them on the streets only to end up in provedorias.
If such patients are given treatment early, their prognosis will be better. “If treatment is delayed the problem becomes more complicated and chronic where they end up not responding to medicines and are difficult to manage at home,” she said.
The South Goa district hospital sees up to two news cases of schizophrenia out of the 800-odd cases, every month. Majority of the patients are in the age group of 20-40 as it becomes more apparent in this age group that they are not able to function. In elderly, it is dismissed as an age-related problem.
