Mysuru: Noting that changing lifestyles and food habits are responsible for increase in illness & ailments, Zilla Panchayat (ZP) CEO K.M. Gayathri stressed on the need for the people to undergo regular health check-ups for maintaining good health.

She was speaking after inaugurating Health Camp for PDOs, ZP and GP officials, organised by the District  Health & Family Welfare Department as part of ‘World Mental Health Day’ at the ZP Hall here recently. Maintaining that a good physical & mental health is vital for maintaining a stable, health and happy life, Gayathri called upon the people not to fall prey to vices and lose their health.

Asking the people to practise  good habits, she cautioned the people against bad habits in order to overcome work pressure.

Highlighting that mental health problems are mostly due to excessive work pressure, depression, lifestyle and changing food habits, Gayathri said that this will result in faster spread         of ailments.

Stressing on the need for getting proper treatment at an early stage of the disease itself, she said, “Some people hesitate to visit doctors, hiding their illness. This will only result in the escalation of the disease, that often end up in tragic loss of lives. As such, it is important that any disease is treated timely at the early stage itself.”

District Mental Diseases and Leprosy Eradication Officer Dr. Brinda said that those suffering from mental disorders, should not be ignored and instead treated with humanity. Noting that mental illness can be cured by timely and proper treatment, she said that in public interest, the Health & Family Welfare   Department has introduced toll free No. 14416.

She further said that treatment is given for mental disorders at ‘Mano Chaitanya’ Clinics in all Primary Health Centres (PHCs) every Tuesday and called upon the people to make best use of this facility. Also, there will be counselling in General Hospitals, she added.

District Health & Family Welfare Officer Dr. P.C. Kumaraswamy, District Health & Family Welfare Programme Officer Prabhuswamy, ZP Deputy Secretary Krishnam Raju, Siraj, Gopinath, Siddalingaswamy and others were present.