Chandigarh, February 24 : The 3rd Indian Psychological Science Congress began at Post Graduate Government College, Sector 46 here today. The two-day conference is being organised under the aegis of National Association of Psychological Science- India and the Psychology Department of the college. Principal Secretary of Haryana Govt., Mr Dhanpat Singh, IAS inaugurated the conference, while Deputy Commissioner of Panchkula, Dr S S Phulia, IAS was the guest of honour.
Delivering the key-note address, Dr Sagar Sharma, Prof Emeritus and former head of the department of Psychology at Himachal Pradesh University, said, “Health is a state of complete physical, social and mental well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Psychological well-being is in very poor state in the urban areas, however the rural people are comparatively in better position. We have taller buildings, but short tempers; more degrees, less common sense; and more experts, less solutions.“
In his inaugural speech Mr Dhanpat Singh sited examples of high happiness rate among the people of West Indies, North-Eastern states and Goa, while this trait is going down in the states of Punjab and Haryana.
Conference Director Dr Roshan Lal Dahiya said, “Major areas of psychology to be covered during the two days of this conference include emotional ventilation, mental health, elderly abuse, military psychology and disaster psychology, among many other topics.”
A poster presentation was also held during the day, while the delegates and the research scholars discussed the psychological issues present in the society and in the country at different sessions. “This is also the first international Psychological Science Congress this time,” informed the organizing secretary, Dr Rajesh Kumar.
It was elaborated that major barriers in seeking help are unavailability of mental health services, low literacy, socio-cultural barriers, traditional and religious beliefs, stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness. Unavailability of mental health services and lack of resources, particularly in terms of human resources, financial constraints, and infrastructure are one of major barriers which makes access to mental health services in rural areas more difficult.