bengaluru the number of people availing treatment for mental health issues at bbmps primary health centres phcs and referral hospitals has seen nearly a threefold spike in three years while 200odd patients were treated at palike facilities on an average every month in 201617 the number touched 740 in the eight months since april 1 2019people with mental health problems are treated at bbmps 85 phcs and 26 referral hospitals under the district mental health programme which includes slum visits and assisted home care dr savitha sk programme officer said most of the patients come from underprivileged backgrounds they include pourakarmikas domestic helps cabbies and housekeeping workers we have a 30 staff shortage and arent able to handle all the cases we get dr savitha saidat least half our patients are those who avoid going to nimhans or private hospitals due to the stigma attached to mental health issues they are the ones coming to our phcs said dr vikram psychiatrist and incharge of the programmethe rise in numbers can be attributed to increased awareness and access phc doctors spend a few hours after their regular work timings in the evening and counsel people suffering from mental illness or those who need psychological support at our phcs theres also a team of psychiatrists who visit phcs for consultation said ravikumar surpur an additional commissioner of bbmp four psychiatrists and 145 medical officers trained by nimhans in handling mental health issues are in the vanguard of implementing the programmebesides counselling at phcs bbmp doctors conduct doorstep counselling assisted home care and slum visits to cater to patients who cant visit phcs the programme also involves anganwadi workers ayush doctors residential school students teachers asha workers police and prison staff among other to ensure efficient targeted interventiondr vikram recalled the case of an asha worker on field work finding a graduate in her mid20s chained in her house by her brother in subramanyanagar last year alerted by the worker bbmp nurses were sent to the house dr vikram too visited the woman and found she was showing clear signs of schizophreniaher brother blamed evil spirits for his sisters plight and was getting her treated at a place of worship he refused to accept our diagnosis we told him he could continue his treatment but we would try out our treatment too he agreed and the asha worker began providing her with medicines prescribed by us during her visits in five months she began recovering soon she started coming to our phc to avail treatment he said the woman has recovered completely and is now employed with namma metro people need to know that mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of and something that needs to be addressed and treated they should also be able to visit bbmp hospitals like any other private clinic said surpur youths in the age group of 1529 with complaints of alcohol addiction and substance abuse are among those treated by bbmp doctors this is because of