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Brain Behaviour Research Foundation of India (BBRFI) on Saturday (November 17, 2018) unveiled a path-breaking research on ‘Effect of Charkha Spinning on Brain & Behaviour’ sponsored by Gandhi Darshan, Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
The research was presented by Chairperson of BBRFI, Dr. Meena Mishra.
According to the research, released on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and conducted by BBRFI over a month on 30 individuals, spinning a charkha everyday for some time had positive and soothing effects on the participants.
The event, organised at Satyagrah Mandap in Rajghat, also marked the launch of BBRFI’s Annual Magazine on mental health, ‘Brain Behaviour — Mind Matters’. A first-of-its-kind magazine, it shines the spotlight on issues, approaches and prevailing commentary on mental health in India and across the world. At the event, through panel discussion and keynotes, helped raise awareness of mental health, reduce stigma, share knowledge and improve outcomes.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda in his message said that while the developing economy is increasing, mental health problems are increasing in India, and in this we hope that this magazine will help to make people aware about mental health.
Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said in his message that this magazine would surely work to motivate each person to create a better society.
Health Secretary Preeti Sudan, IMA President Dr Ravi S Wankhedkar, AIIMS Director Dr. (Prof.) Randeep Gularia, DMA President Ashwani Goyal also sent their messages for the magazine.
The event was inaugurated by the traditional lighting of lamp by Chief Guest Dr. Rajesh Malhotra, Chief of JPNA AIIMS and Dr. Alok Mishra. Subodh Kumar, Deputy Director of BBRFI presented a background of the organization.
On the occasion Dr. Malhotra, and other Honourable Guests, including Prof. B.P. Khandelwal, Former Chairman C.B.S.E. and member DPS society; Dr. R.P. Beniwal, Head, Dept. Of Psychiatry, PGIMEMR, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Delhi; Dr. Rajesh Sagar, Professor, Dept. Of Psychiatry, AIIMS, Delhi, spoke about the relevance of Brain Behaviour Magazine in mental health. Dr. Monica Mongia and Anurag Dondial were also the speakers in the programme.
The organisers expressed special gratitude to the Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti for the assistance in studying effect of charkha on brain and behaviour.
“I would say mental health is even more important that physical health. At AIIMS we are actively looking at working with our psychology department to help family members of patients cope with some trying and difficult times,” said Dr. Malhotra in his address as the Chief Guest at the event.
Commenting on the status of mental health in Indian, Dr. Sagar, said, “There is a great deal of stigma in the society on mental health. Mental wellbeing is often construed as being crazy or mad, which mean people find it difficult to talk about and even seek help in intervention. We, as a society, need to change this attitude.”
The urgency of focus on mental health in India can be pointed out with the fact that, one in four people in the world is likely to be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives. Around 450 million people currently suffer from such conditions, placing mental disorders among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide.
Treatments are available, but nearly two-thirds of people with a known mental disorder never seek help from a health professional. Stigma, discrimination and neglect, prevent care and treatment from reaching people with mental disorders, says the World Health Organization (WHO).
To support the child, the adolescent and everyone else in their mental well-being, BBRFI has been conducting pioneering work. Combining cutting-edge technology with good-old counseling, BBRFI has made a significant impact among the society
