Indrajeet Patil's research shows people with autism also have their share of empathy for others’ well being, contrary to common beliefs. In fact, they are believed to go through a lot of personal distress at the prospect of anyone being harmed.
PatientsEngage with inputs from Akila Vaidyanathan interviewed SISSA researcher Indrajeet Patil on his research:
Can you tell us about the study in brief.
Traditionally, there have been two common myths about autism that have flourished in the…
IPCF or Indian Prostrate Cancer Foundation is going to great lengths to create awareness of this rising affliction with the slogan “Prostate Cancer is curable if detected early”. They have tied up with various organisations to help carry their message to the masses. Indian Prostate Cancer Foundation (IPCF), in association with PatientsEngage, is trying to create awareness among the vast and the quickly expanding online community about prostate cancer through various joint initiatives. IPCF is…
Diabetes Awareness and You (DAY), Kolkata says that food and lifestyle habits play a significant role in the prevalence of diabetes in West Bengal. PatientsEngage talks to DAY on the steps to help manage diabetes especially among women. What are the challenges of Diabetes Mellitus in WB? Is it different from the rest of the country? (Kolkata has the second highest prevalence rate of diabetes among Indian metros) The world is moving on the wheels of scientific advancements, adding years…
Diabetes Awareness Month 2016 You're more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you're overweight or obese with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more. According to Dr Anil Bhoraskar, leading diabetologist, ‘Thin fat Indians’ who have low BMI but have most of the fat accumulated around the tummy are particularly at risk. According to the Lancet study, China, India and USA are among the top three countries with a high number of diabetic population. While the numbers climbed from 20.4 million in…
Dementia is difficult. Absence of diagnosis, counselling and support makes matters worse. Basic awareness and services can help decrease caregiver stress. Daksha Bhat of Varishta analyses the situation on dementia care in Gujarat. Dementia may start as a slow, creeping change that gradually makes its inroads into our lives. It can happen to anybody who is over 60. Beginning with a gradual decline in the capacity to recall important things, it gradually manifests as a slow deterioration in the…
Restoring self-esteem and self-worth is what Dance Movement Therapy by Renelle Snelleksz has successfully achieved for a cross section of people like people with Parkinson’s Disease or those with a history of physical abuse and even children who have survived cancer but are deeply scarred. What is Dance Movement Therapy? How is it different from learning Dance? Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) is very different from technique-based dance in that it creates a safe and non-judgemental space for…
Being employed, besides serving monetary ends, is the best way for rehabilitation of people with mental illness, according to Atmanirbhar, an organisation which practices what it preaches. AtmaNirbhar is a registered non-profit trust based in Chennai that is engaged in finding solutions for employment for people with mental ill health. The stigma of having a mental illness is a massive barrier that an individual battling the illness has to confront every single day. If we add seeking and…
Moyna Sen writes on the National Conclave for Community Mental Health held in July organised by Anjali that touched myriad issues. A simple definition of Mental Health goes this way: ‘Mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.’ The National…
Neha Arora, the plucky 32-year-old, who started Planet Abled, the first travel company for people with special needs, says the condescending attitude of society is more nerve-wracking than physical infrastructural challenges when she is touring with the disabled around the country. Planet Abled is probably the first travel company in India that caters to people with special needs. What inspired you to set up it up? My personal travel experiences as a daughter of parents with disabilities led to…
