Schizophrenia Conference Tackles Mind Mysteries

The 12th International Conference on Schizophrenia, organized by SCARF, began on Thursday. Assistant Professor Natarajan Varadharajan received the inaugural STELAR Award.

Darez Ahamed, Health Secretary to the Tamil Nadu government, stressed that mental health is as vital as maternal and child health within the broader healthcare system. He noted Tamil Nadu's existing mental health programs but highlighted the challenge of population-level service delivery, aligning with national policy shifts.

Ashoo Grover from the Indian Council of Medical Research pointed out that mental health conditions are a significant, often overlooked, part of the non-communicable disease (NCD) burden. This underscores the need for integrated approaches.

Internationally, Matcheri S. Keshavan delivered an oration on cognition in schizophrenia. Separately, a panel of experts, including psychiatrists, caregivers, and individuals with lived experience, discussed whether the term 'schizophrenia' should be changed, agreeing that a nomenclature shift could follow deeper comprehension of the disorder.