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Current Geriatrics Reports
Published in: Current Geriatrics Reports 1/2013

01-03-2013 | Invited Commentary

State of Geriatric Mental Health in India

Authors: Om Prakash, Prerna Kukreti

Published in: Current Geriatrics Reports | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

The elderly population of India is steadily increasing. Most common psychiatric illnesses in the Indian elderly population are depression, dementia and anxiety disorders. Resources available to cater to the needs of elderly in the country are government and private psychiatric hospitals, non-governmental organisations and the family as caregivers. Lack of awareness, inadequate training opportunities; inequitable distribution of health resources and virtual absence of chronic care disease models are the challenges that confound the future of geriatric psychiatry in India. Government policies providing social benefits to the elderly population are in place but coverage is inadequate. For addressing geriatric mental health issues, the need of the hour is to increase awareness, capacity building, strengthening training and research activities, developing community based rehabilitation programmes and developing a holistic primary health care system.
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Metadata
Title
State of Geriatric Mental Health in India
Authors
Om Prakash
Prerna Kukreti
Publication date
01-03-2013
Publisher
Current Science Inc.
Published in
Current Geriatrics Reports / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 2196-7865
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13670-012-0034-1

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