MUMBAI: A team of the National Human Rights Commission will visit Thane Mental Hospital on Wednesday to look into the issue of mentally ill patients who have been abandoned by their families and continue staying in hospital even after being declared fit.Many of these patients were admitted by their parents who subsequently died and the ancestral home has been taken over by siblings who no longer want to patient around, said additional director (mental health) Dr Swapnil Lale.Moreover, many of these patients cannot be sent back home if there is no caretaker ensuring they take medicines. Our experience is that around 28% of the patients who were discharged need readmission, said Dr Lale.However, according to the Mental Health Act 2017, cured patients cannot be kept in psychiatric hospitals. In this regard, a complaint has been filed with the National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi, and a team is accordingly going to inspect the Thane Mental Hospital. The issue has also been raised at Bombay high court when psychiatrist Dr Harish Shetty filed a PIL last year about patients languishing in mental hospitals although cured or not seriously mentally ill. A couple of weeks ago, the Bombay high court said priority must be given for discharge of 379 patients who are declared fit out of 475 patients who have been in the states four regional mental hospitals for over a decade. That would mean that 379 patients in mental health establishments, even after more than ten years, could be discharged yet continue to live in these establishments. This is indeed serious, said the justices in their October 11 order. In August, the State Mental Health Authority (SMHA) submitted data collected from mental hospitals in Thane, Nagpur, Pune and Ratnagiri. The chart showed 1,022 patients are fit for discharge. Also, 475 patients have been in hospitals for 10 or more years.tnnWe also published the following articles recentlyThe gut-brain connection: How nutrition impacts mental healthThe gut and the brain are interconnected through the gut-brain axis, with the gut microbiome playing a crucial role in this relationship. Changes in the guts microbial composition can affect brain physiology and cognitive functions. Nutrition also has a significant impact on mental health, with a healthy, well-balanced diet being beneficial for emotional well-being and cognitive function. Processed foods high in sugar can lead to inflammation and mood disorders. Incorporating fruits, vegetables, omega-3 fatty acids, lean proteins, and complex carbohydrates into the diet can promote optimal mental health. Understanding the gut-brain connection and making informed dietary choices can enhance overall well-being and cognitive abilities.Smoking link to Menopause before 40, mental health hitA nationwide study conducted in India has found that smoking is associated with premature menopause, depression, and insomnia. The study revealed that 11.6% of women in Delhi experienced menopause before the age of 40, compared to the national average of 8.06%. Women who experienced premature menopause had lower cognitive scores and symptoms of depression and insomnia. The study also highlighted the negative effects of smoking on reproductive health and called for more awareness and research on the early onset of menopause.Dengue patient count drops across Kolkatas private hospitalsThe number of dengue patients in Kolkatas private hospitals has significantly decreased over the last week, leading experts to believe that the outbreak is on the decline and could end in two weeks. While sporadic deaths may still occur until mid-November, the overall number of admissions and severe cases has dropped. The decrease in patients is attributed to the change in weather, increased awareness, and preventive measures taken to control mosquito breeding grounds and water accumulation. The last reported dengue death in Kolkata was on October 20.

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