Relevance: GS-2 (Health)
- Stigma and Mental Health Impact:
- TB carries a deep stigma due to its association with contagiousness, poverty, and unhealthy behavior.
- Social and self-stigma contribute to mental health challenges like hopelessness, despair, and impaired decision-making.
- Co-Epidemic of TB and Mental Health:
- Mental illness and TB are interlinked
- Mental health issues can increase vulnerability to TB, and TB stigma exacerbates mental health problems.
- Up to 84% of TB patients experience depression.
- TB Treatment and Mental Health:
- TB treatment has long durations and severe side effects, which negatively affect mental health and self-confidence.
- Physical changes, such as rashes and psychotic episodes, also contribute to mental health distress.
- Bidirectional Relationship:
- Mental health issues, such as depression, increase the risk of TB due to weakened immune systems.
- Mental health disorders, including addiction (tobacco, alcohol, narcotics), correlate with a higher incidence of TB.
- Mental Health Screening :
- Despite routine screening for diabetes and HIV in TB patients, mental health screening is often overlooked in TB care.
- India should introduce mental health screening and psychological support as part of TB care to improve treatment adherence and outcomes.
- Digital Therapies:
- Remote digital therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), have shown promise in managing depression in TB patients
- India can leverage smartphone penetration to provide mental health services for TB patients.
- Community Engagement:
- Community-based support systems can help destigmatize TB and mental health issues.
- Support groups and informational campaigns can provide vital resources for TB-affected individuals and their families.
- Recommendations:
- Integrated policies should address both TB and mental health.
- Policymakers should allocate resources to mental health services within TB programs, ensuring mental health is considered at every stage of TB care.
- Urgency of Mental Health Care:
- TB cannot be effectively eliminated without addressing the mental health needs of patients.
- Training more psychiatrists and improving referral systems for psychiatric care is essential due to the shortage of mental health professionals in India.
