As Southasia continues to feel the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, in this episode of Himal Interviews we explore a possible "third wave" of health crises – those in the sphere of mental health. Speaking to psychiatrists from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, we look at the mental-health infrastructures in these countries and how COVID-19 has exacerbated or generated new challenges across the region. How have countries attempted to account for or manage the third wave? We also unpack mental-health challenges faced by women, the pros and cons of using technology in providing mental-health care, the impacts of stigma, and the roles of funerals in dealing with loss.
Himal Southasian speaks to Dr Asma Humayun from Islamabad, Dr Soumitra Pathare from Pune and Professor Daya Somasundaram from Jaffna. Dr Humayun is a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and has over 25 years of experience in clinical care, service development and capacity building. Dr Pathare is a consultant psychiatrist and director of the Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy at the Indian Law Society in Pune, India. Professor Somasundaram is a senior professor of psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna, and a consultant psychiatrist working in northern Sri Lanka for over two decades.
Editors' note: These videos contain discussions on the topic of suicide. Please go to the end of the page to find suicide-prevention phone numbers for countries in Southasia.
Mental Health & COVID-19 – Introducing the speakers