AMN /
WHO has lauded India for passing the Mental Healthcare Bill recently and asked nations to scale up mental health services quality.
It said depression affects 86 million people in South-East Asia region. WHO’s South-East Asia Regional Director, Poonam Khetrapal Singh, today said depression-related health services must be made more accessible and of higher quality.
On the eve of World Health Day, Singh said if untreated, the most severe form of depression can lead to suicide and asked communities to openly talk about the syndrome to prevent hardships and precious lives being cut short by it.
The World Health Day this year focuses on depression, a condition involving persistent sadness or loss of interest or pleasure in things normally enjoyed.
Singh complimented India for its recent legislation that decriminalizes suicide and seeks to provide healthcare and services for persons with mental health conditions.