30-04-2025
From 1,192 in 2019 to 2,300 this yr, spike in elderly patients at PGI's Dept of Psychiatry
The Department of Psychiatry, (PGI), Chandigarh, has dedicated one day of the week to the mental health issues of senior citizens.
The Geriatric Clinic of the department operational every Thursday has seen a marked rise in new patients reaching out to doctors, with Dr Aseem Mehra, additional professor, psychiatry, terming a rise of 12 to 13 per cent of elderly patients.
While 1,192 new cases were reported in 2019 at the psychiatry OPD of the department, the number now stands at about 2,300 this year so far.
The number of admissions over the last one decade has seen almost a 30 per cent increase. 'We are moving towards an ageing population, and the rise is multifactorial, with increased awareness about mental health issues post-Covid, and the elderly better informed, and able to identify symptoms like depression, anxiety, sadness, stress, memory loss,' explains Dr Mehra.
Living alone, lack of a community, children being away, a lack of self-worth post-retirement, not enough facilities for the elderly to engage with like-minded people, in some cases financial issues, and physical problems like pains, arthritis, heart disease adding to the feeling of being dependent on others, are some of the common problems that psychiatrists are addressing.
Studies in the department have indicated that more men than women above the age of 60 are seeking help, with the special clinic helping them to get more time with doctors, and special attention, and not wait for long.
Dr Mehra says that post-Covid there was a marked increase in cases of mental health issues, with many having lost their near ones, jobs, feeling isolated, and not able to cope with the aftermath of the pandemic that affected people of all ages, with the elderly more vulnerable.
Counselling, medicines, behavioural therapy and family support, apart from exercise, a more nutritious diet, are the main interventions. 'We insist on regular follow-ups and the results are very positive. Sometimes, patients from other departments are referred to us, for doctors cannot identify the reasons for chronic pains, fatigue, skin issues like rashes, itching, eczema, insomnia, acid reflux, and other gastro issues even after several tests, for many manifestations are due to stress and emotional issues.'
Patients are also analyzed for mild cognitive impairment, the initial stage of dementia along with tests for sugar, hypertension, vitamin deficiencies and if detected, are controlled, with the elderly also asked to play brain games and engage in brain stimulating activities to avert progress of cognitive decline.
Dr Mehra is now leading the team of PGI for the All-India Mental Health Survey, with sampling of five of Punjab's districts to be done by the institute's departments of psychiatry and community medicine. 'The districts are picked on an economic basis, and for the sample size, we will go to the deepest level and select people in a uniform manner and on a scientific basis, with a minimum population of 8,500 people, along with senior citizens and children. We have started training the team at PGI that will take the sample size,' explains Dr Mehra.
The districts to be included are Ropar, Sangrur, Pathankot, Moga and Patiala, and various psychiatry scales will be used for the survey, encompassing the district panchayat, village, ward and booth levels.
