Psychiatry and Society

Difficulty with reading, spelling and maths is rampant among Indian students. Two recent reports have highlighted this academic underachievement. The academic infrastructure is definitely a major contributor. However, unrecognised dyslexia  or other learning disability  also needs to be considered by every concerned parent and enlightened teacher. We have already discussed the management of dyslexia . Here we underline the urgent need for action. India ranked 72nd of 73 countries in a comparative international survey (PISA) of 15-year-old students. All students were assessed on the same test for knowledge and skills in reading, mathematical and scientific literacy. A sample of more than 5000 students from 200 Indian schools were assessed in this program. In none of these categories did more than 17% of Indian students scored above baseline levels as compared to 81% of students from OECD countries (US, UK, Australia etc). 15-year-olds scoring above baseline...

Recovery to meaningful functioning after even severe mental illness is the present standard of care in mental health treatment. Recovery is made possible by medications that are now widely available at a reasonable cost. Planning and persistence with treatment need to be ensured to achieve a quality recovery. Recovery from mental disorders is a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness live a self-directed life strive to reach their full potential The road to recovery from mental illness has four components that together give meaning to life. 1. Health Overcoming or managing the disease and living in a physically and emotionally healthy way. Start with the basics - medication, meals, sleep and exercise . Establishing routines for these basic health tasks are essential for recovery of function. Medication is the corner stone on which recovery is nurtured. In the absence of medication frequent relapses and recurrences disrupt basic f...