Mental health issues of disability in India

Headnote

The number of people with disabilities is increasing due to population growth, ageing, emergence of chronic diseases and medical advances that preserve and prolong life, creating overwhelming demands for health and rehabilitation services (Srivastava & Khan, 2008). In India, the prevalence of total disability ranges from of 5518.39 to 16388.38 in rural and urban population (A handbook of statistical Indicators on Indian Women, 2007). When we look on prevalence of disability worldwide it range from 0.7 % to 19.4% (Walia, 2011). There is need to study disability order to help them in the best possible way (Singh, 2008). So this study attempt to describe disability, models of disability, impact of disability and areas to concern when measure for disability in India so as to provide some light on general public as well as professional in the field.

Keywords: disability, mental health issues, models

What is disability?

Disability may be defined as disturbances in performance of social roles that would normally be accepted of an individual in the habitual milieu, arising in association with diagnosable mental disorder (Jeblensky, Schwarz & Tomov, 1980).

The International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps (ICIDH,1980), provides a conceptual framework for disability which is described in three dimensions-impairment, disability and handicap :

Disability: In the context of health experience a disability is any restriction or lack (resulting from an impairment) of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being.

Impairment: In the context of health experience an impairment is any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological or anatomical structure or function. Impairment is considered to occur at the level of organ or system function. Disability is concerned with functional performance or activity affecting the whole person.

Handicap: In the context of health experience a handicap is a disadvantage for a given individual, resulting from an impairment or a disability, that limits or prevents the fulfillment of a role that is normal (depending on age, sex, and social and cultural factors) for that individual. According to persons with disabilities (Equal opportunities, protection of rights and Full participation) Act ( 1995) disability means:

* Blindness.

* Low Vision.

* Leprosy cure.

* Hearing impairment.

* Locomotor disability.

* Mental retardation and

*...