Samikhsya Bureau
Depression is not a sign of weakness — it means you’ve been strong for far too long…”
Though the snippet pitches in larger stigma around mental health problems, yet sensitisation through various therapeutic activities will always show the way forward in tackling mental illness in and around our country.
As per a recently published WHO report, depression, OCD and addiction affects around 56 million people in India, but Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a non-invasive procedure in our country use magnetic fields to stimulate targeted nerve cells and improves symptoms of depression, OCD and addictive disorders.
“Even as large segment of depressed individuals fail to get a holistic treatment and care, either because of low awareness, prevailing stigma or discrimination of such patients, but the TMS therapy, where the magnetic waves are transferred through the cranial of the brain to stimulate a targeted nerve, will always prove beneficial in dealing with mental health issues”, psychiatrist Dr Sandeep Govil said.
TMS can be used for treating severe diseases like addictive disorders, Parkinson’s disease, post stroke depression, depression during pregnancy to name a few.
A TMS procedure lasts for nearly 15 minutes and after that a person can resume their job immediately, added Dr Govil.
TMS uses magnetic fields whereas in Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and often referred to as shock treatment, a psychiatric treatment in which seizures are electrically induced in patients to provide relief from mental disorders.
In ECT, the patient has to accompany with someone to the clinic and the after effect of the procedure stays for 5-6 hours whereas in TMS a person can come alone take the procedure and can join his or her work immediately after a session, noted Dr Govil.
TMS is a second line of treatment which is applied when the first line of treatment ie, psychotherapy and anti- depressants does not give the required results, the treatment centre underscored.
Through TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation), the US FDA-approved treatment, the clinics offer an integrated program for psychological, psychiatric and behavioural health and well-being.
The comprehensive treatment program at mindful TMS is for individuals who are suffering from; Depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), anxiety disorder and mood disorder mindful TMS plans to have 12 clinics in India and 22 clinics globally by next year.
(with UNI inputs)
