Psychologists and psychiatrists play a vital role in the post COVID-19 scenario as every single individual has gone through a state of emotional strain or suspense during the COVID-19 pandemic, MLA Dr Sapam Ranjan said on Saturday.
He was speaking as the chief guest during the inaugural function of ‘21st MANIPSYCON 2020,’ the annual conference of Indian Psychiatric Society, Manipur State Branch at the Jubilee Hall of RIMS, Imphal.
Ranjan who is also the advisor (Health) to chief minister of Manipur termed 2020 as a “bad year” and said he prayed that such a year may never come back in the future.
The MLA elaborated that COVID-19 has given a lot of negative impacts such as behavioral addiction, substance abuse and different mental health issues to all age groups and health workers.
COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most stressful periods in the history, he said while adding that the government has been working and taking up every possible step to make sure that every person in the state, including those staying outside the state for studies and jobs are safe.
Asserting that as the state has not fully overcome COVID-19, the government has imposed certain restrictions during Holi festival as measures to prevent another wave of COVID-19 pandemic, he appealed to the public to continue following the guidelines laid down by the state government.
He lauded the organisers for conducting such a conference on one of the most important and relevant topics i.e. “COVID-19 and Mental Health.”
Delivering the presidential speech, president of IPS, Manipur State Branch Dr S Manikanta Singh said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, isolation, fear of contracting the disease, loss of income and others adversely affect the mental health conditions among the general population.
He said, “During the active phase of COVID-19 pandemic, mental health needs may not be on the forefront of public health and this may lead to worsening of symptoms. However, managing the mental disorders has become a necessity to stabilise quality of lives during the prevailing pandemic.”
He mentioned that the pandemic will eventually die down but the increasing frequency and intensity of mental disorders will be an unfortunate aftermath for many months to come. “It is our responsibility to deal with the current situation with great courage and spirit,” Manikanta added.
During the function of the IPS, Manipur State Branch has felicitated few prominent psychiatrists of the state for their contribution in the field of medical health.
