BENGALURU: The Department of Health and Family Welfare conducted 23.8 lakh tele-counselling sessions- involving 15 lakh Covid-19 patients and eight lakh people, who were hit by the pandemic, in March 2020.
Of the total sessions, seven lakh were during the peak of the second wave in May this year, when most patients were concerned about securing hospital beds. In addition to this covid Among patients and those in quarantine and isolation, those consulted included Covid patients who needed treatment and therapy for anxiety and depression, health care workers and migrant workers.
when the pandemic strikes Karnataka, the state government decided to keep in touch with those who tested positive and those who needed to be in isolation or quarantine and offered psychological support. The stranded migrant laborers were also counselled during the nationwide lockdown. Multiple calls were made to patients requiring follow-up.
The data till Friday (October 15) shows that the number of Covid positive people has crossed 15 lakhs. Around 8.8 lakh people in home quarantine and travelers from other states and countries were among the counselors. During the first wave, the mental health wing counseled a total of 88,522 migrant workers, of whom 1,841 were also treated.
Counseling of 24,445 health workers was conducted across the state. The stress and fatigue among healthcare workers was addressed by the mental health wing of the government. Those who consulted include 8,328 doctors.
Although district-wise data is not available, officials say a large number of calls were made from Bengaluru. “When cases spiked in Bengaluru during the second wave, teams from other districts had to counsel patients,” said Dr P Rajani, deputy director, mental health, health and family welfare department. “We will divert calls to psychiatrists from other districts. It was teamwork of over 200 personnel. ”
She said that in some cases, patients need medications for mental health issues. He was given a prescription and further treatment was coordinated by doctors and in-house psychiatrists at the respective hospitals.
Dr. Chetan Kumar, Consultant Psychiatrist, District Mental Health Programme, Bangalore Urban, said that in the initial days, international travelers who were quarantined in medical colleges in Bengaluru were the beneficiaries of the program as uncertainties hit them hard. “We educated them about what quarantine is and why it is needed. Gradually the tension regarding Covid eased,” said Dr Kumar.
In some cases, especially during the peak of the second wave, counselors faced the wrath of patients. “When we called them to pacify, the patients shouted at us saying they needed beds. The lack of beds affected many people during the peak of the second wave, and they used to abuse us,” said a counsellor.
Of the total sessions, seven lakh were during the peak of the second wave in May this year, when most patients were concerned about securing hospital beds. In addition to this covid Among patients and those in quarantine and isolation, those consulted included Covid patients who needed treatment and therapy for anxiety and depression, health care workers and migrant workers.
when the pandemic strikes Karnataka, the state government decided to keep in touch with those who tested positive and those who needed to be in isolation or quarantine and offered psychological support. The stranded migrant laborers were also counselled during the nationwide lockdown. Multiple calls were made to patients requiring follow-up.
The data till Friday (October 15) shows that the number of Covid positive people has crossed 15 lakhs. Around 8.8 lakh people in home quarantine and travelers from other states and countries were among the counselors. During the first wave, the mental health wing counseled a total of 88,522 migrant workers, of whom 1,841 were also treated.
Counseling of 24,445 health workers was conducted across the state. The stress and fatigue among healthcare workers was addressed by the mental health wing of the government. Those who consulted include 8,328 doctors.
Although district-wise data is not available, officials say a large number of calls were made from Bengaluru. “When cases spiked in Bengaluru during the second wave, teams from other districts had to counsel patients,” said Dr P Rajani, deputy director, mental health, health and family welfare department. “We will divert calls to psychiatrists from other districts. It was teamwork of over 200 personnel. ”
She said that in some cases, patients need medications for mental health issues. He was given a prescription and further treatment was coordinated by doctors and in-house psychiatrists at the respective hospitals.
Dr. Chetan Kumar, Consultant Psychiatrist, District Mental Health Programme, Bangalore Urban, said that in the initial days, international travelers who were quarantined in medical colleges in Bengaluru were the beneficiaries of the program as uncertainties hit them hard. “We educated them about what quarantine is and why it is needed. Gradually the tension regarding Covid eased,” said Dr Kumar.
In some cases, especially during the peak of the second wave, counselors faced the wrath of patients. “When we called them to pacify, the patients shouted at us saying they needed beds. The lack of beds affected many people during the peak of the second wave, and they used to abuse us,” said a counsellor.
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