Bhubaneswar, November 7: To create awareness and sensitivity about the mental illness, two national award winning films Kaasav and Nial were screened by the Health & Family Welfare Department at the Krishi Bhawan auditorium here on Friday.
Renowned psychiatrist and actor Padmashree Dr. Mohan Agashe graced the event and laid emphasis on education and awareness about mental health.
“So, cinema is one of the best forms of communication as it screens complex ideas, thoughts and sentiments which may be difficult to express through words alone,” said Agashe.
Both the films carried invaluable social messages. These messages need to reach to a wider audience for the greater benefit of the society, said Health and Family Welfare Secretary Aswathy S.
Kaasav (turtle) is one of the marvels of the eco-system that needs preservation from one and all. In fact, protecting the endangered reptile coming ashore to lay eggs is the on-going theme of the film.
Depression has become a major challenge in the modern society. The feeling of loneliness is ever increasing among people of all age groups, as a result of an inability to keep pace with the fast moving world. One can come up from the turmoil of loneliness or depression, by observing the nature keenly, as it has been explained in the film by the life cycle of the turtle.
Similarly, Nital, narrates the non-contagious and non-infectious skin disorder called Leucoderma in which skin loses it natural colour due to the total loss of epidermal melanin. People with this disease face a lot of prejudices in the society due to the lack of proper understandings about this disease. As like Kaasav, this film too explains how love, care and support from the family and community are important to give them a fulfilling life.
Among others, Managing Director OSMCL Dr. Brunda D, Director of Public Health Dr. Nilakantha Mishra, Director of Family Welfare Dr. Sanjukta Sahoo, Special Secretary (P.H) Dr. Jeetendra Mohan Bebortha, Clinical Psychologist Anushree Thakar, Additional Director, PH Dr Prameela Baral, senior officers, doctors, nurses, ANM students, NGOs and developing partners were present at the auditorium to watch the films.
Panel discussions were also held by Padmashree Dr. Agashe, Prof. Dr. Nila Madhaba Ratha, Ex- Director, MHI, SCBMC&H, Cuttack, Dr. Uma Prasad Biswal, Psychiatrist, CH, BBSR, Dr. Jayanta Kumar Panda, Deptt. of Medicine, SCBMC&H and Dr. Rajendra Panigrahy, Sr. Consultant (Skin& VD) at the end of each film.
