Category: Life

Health

At least 13.7 per Presso Graphy cent of India’s general population has various mental disorders; 10.6 percent of them require immediate interventions. While nearly 10 percent of the population has common mental disorders, 1.9 percent of the population suffers from severe mental disorders. These are some of the findings of a National Mental Health Survey held recently and conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS).

That is not all. The prevalence of mental morbidity is very high in urban centers, where there is a higher prevalence of schizophrenia, mood disorders, and neurotic or stress-related disorders. This disturbing scenario could be due to fast-paced lifestyles, experiencing stress, complexities of living, a breakdown of support systems, and economic instability challenges. In 2014, concerned over the growing problem of mental health in India, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had appointed NIMHANS to study mental health status in the country.

The Hindu

After a pilot feasibility study in Kolar district, Karnataka using a sample size of 3,190 individuals, the team which comprised senior professors from NIMHANS, G. Gururaj, Mathew Varghese, Vivek Benegal, and Girish N., began the survey in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Assam, and Manipur Extra Update.

The study covered all important aspects of mental illness, including substance abuse, alcohol use disorder, tobacco use disorder, severe mental illness, depression, anxiety, phobia, and post-traumatic stress disorder, among others — had a sample size of 34,802 individuals. Primary data collection was done through computer-generated random selection by a team of researchers and local teams of co-investigators and field workers in the 12 States.

While the overall current prevalence estimate of mental disorders was 10.6 percent in the total surveyed population, significant variations in overall morbidity ranged from 5.8 percent in Assam to 14.1 percent in Manipur. Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat reported prevalence rates of less than 10 percent. In eight of the 12 States, the prevalence varied between 10.7 percent and 14.1 percent.

Treatment gaps and impact

A major concern in the findings, which were recently submitted to the Union Health Ministry, is that despite three out of four persons experiencing severe mental disorders, there are huge gaps in treatment.

Apart from epilepsy, the treatment gap for all mental health disorders is more than 60 percent. In fact, mental disorders’ economic burden is so huge that affected families spend nearly Rs.1,000-Rs.1,500 a month mainly for treatment and access care.

Due to the stigma associated with mental disorders, nearly 80 percent of those with mental disorders had not received any treatment despite being ill for over 12 months, the study says. Poor implementation of schemes under the National Mental Health Programme is largely responsible for this.

Dr. Gururaj says that there is also a paucity of mental health specialists, pointing out that mental disorders are a low priority in the public health agenda. The health information system itself does not prioritize mental health.

Recommending that mental health financing needs to be streamlined, he says that there is a need to constitute a national commission on mental health comprising professionals from mental health, public health, social sciences, and the judiciary to oversee, facilitate support, and monitor and review mental health policies.

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Prevalence of mental disorders in different States

  • Manipur: 14.1 %
  • Madhya Pradesh: 13.9 %
  • Punjab: 13.4 %
  • West Bengal: 13 %
  • Tamil Nadu: 11.8 %
  • Chhattisgarh: 11.7 %
  • Kerala: 11.4 %
  • Jharkhand: 11.1 %
  • Rajasthan: 10.7 %
  • Gujarat: 7.4 %
  • Uttar Pradesh: 6.1%
  • Assam: 5.8 %

Key findings

Common mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and substance use are as high as 10 percent of the total population. Almost 1 in 20 suffer from depression; it is higher in females in 40-49 years. 22.4 percent of the population above 18 years suffers from substance use disorder

The highest was contributed by tobacco and alcohol use disorder. Nearly 1.9 percent of the population is affected by severe mental disorders. These are detected more among males in urban areas. While the prevalence of mental illness is higher among males (13.9 percent) as compared to females (7.5 percent), certain specific mental illnesses like mood disorders (depression, neurotic disorders, phobic anxiety disorders, etc.) are more in females. Neurosis. Stress-related illnesses are also seen to be more in women. Prevalence in teenagers aged between 13 and 17 years is 7.3 percent.

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Beauty

New Delhi, Oct 19: Use baby oil, rose Robottip water, and milk masks to get your skin glowing for the festival of Karva Chauth, which will be celebrating today, says an expert. Naresh Arora, a founder of Chase Aromatherapy Cosmetics and Chase Skin Care Institute, has listed some easy skincare tips.

* Increase the intake of water. Drink around 6-8 glasses of water to stay fully hydrated. This will help in releasing all the toxins from the body increasing skin illumination.

karwa-chauth
* Use rose water for washing and cleaning the face. Keep the rose water refrigerated and spray it all over the face after regular intervals so that no dirt stays on.

* Instead of taking caffeine in the form of tea or coffee, take green tea. Generally, ladies think consuming caffeine will help them stay active and energetic during the day. This is not a healthy option. It might strip off the body’s moisture, leaving you dehydrated. Green tea is not only good for your skin but rejuvenates your stomach also.

* Massage your face with baby oil. Massaging helps in tissue and muscle relaxation, and baby oils are best suited for all skin types. They treat the skin with great tenderness. Best News Mag.

* Take care of your eyes especially. They are the biggest contributors to face expression. Keep them moisturized. Try and take full rest. Use eye cream before going to bed for best results.

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* Do not experiment with your facials and other skin treatments around these days. The new skin treatments may or may not suit you. There are major chances of getting adversely affected.

* Try honey and milk mask. Take two teaspoons of milk with one teaspoon of honey and add one teaspoon of besan (gram flour) and mix to form a homogeneous paste. Apply all over the face and leave it for 20 minutes, allowing the pack to dry. Rinse off with warm water.

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Beauty

Gandikota is known as the Reality Crazy  Grand Canyon of India, and it was definitely one of the best treks I’ve been on in south India. This one was organized by Root Walk. I chose to go for it as I had always wanted to go on a non-waterfall trek, and this seemed to be the perfect choice as the trek leads you to a canyon. The walk is usually accompanied by a visit to the Belum caves, which is supposedly the largest tourist cave in the Indian subcontinent. Besides, it was a great opportunity to meet and network with people.

Gandikota’s infamous gorge

Anyone who can visit Gandikota, a visit to the archaeology museum, Belum caves, and Madhava Perumal Temple is necessary. Don’t miss a visit to the granary, jail, and the Mylavaram dam either. Several temples in Gandikota have intricate, beautiful architecture and are awe-inspiring.

The most memorable experience on the trip was making new friends. Everyone had a story to tell and reasons of their own for traveling. It was great to learn so many things from the people accompanying me on the trip. Being a photographer allowed me to share some expertise with fellow photographers during the trip. There was a part of the trek where my friend and I set out to take on a completely new passage to the trek’s highest point. The entire experience was adventurous (because it was actually drizzling when we trekked, and the rocks were slippery). Try Updates.

The locals are just like any other people you find across south India — interactive and helpful. They are fascinated by the presence of tourists. There are only a few small grocery shops for refreshments here. But it’s hard to find a restaurant here — though; a restaurant makes great business sense in this tourist hotspot.

It takes eight hours from Chennai to Gandikota, and although the trek is doable in a day, it is bound to be extremely intensive. I suggest you visit the tourist attractions around the area, which would probably take a weekend, and appreciate the place in its entirety.

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If you enjoy trekking and photography, this is a must-visit destination. Apart from clicking pictures, you can take plenty of time out to observe and absorb nature’s beauty. Gandikota allows you to understand the importance and supremacy of nature. Also, carry plenty of water, and of course, wear suitable footwear for the trek.

Monsoon would make for a slippery journey, so it’s avoidable in the rains, although this is the only time you can see the river passing through the gorge. December to February is the best time to experience the beauty of Gandikota.

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Beauty

It’s that time of the year when married Sci Burg women brace up to fast for their husbands and make sure you look your beautiful best on an auspicious occasion; we got in touch with beauty expert Shahnaz Husain to share some home beauty tips for the big day. Here you go.

Karva Chauth

1. Mix a mask at home with two teaspoons wheat bran (choker), one teaspoon each of ground almonds (badaam), curd, honey, and rose water. Mix everything into a paste and apply on the face, avoiding the lips and area around the eyes. Wash it off after 20 minutes.

2. For a quick fix pack, mix honey with egg white and apply it to the face. Wash off with water after 20 minutes. It leaves the face soft and glowing My Amend.

3. For dull and tired eyes, dip cotton wool pads in rose water and use them as eye pads over closed lids. Lie down and relax while the pads dry. It helps to remove fatigue and brighten the eyes. The fragrance of rose has a calming effect on the mind.

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4. Mix one teaspoon each of lemon juice and honey with one egg. Beat them together well. Massage the mixture lightly into the scalp. Then wrap the hair in a hot towel for twenty minutes before washing the hair. Your hair will have more body and look shiny and manageable.

5. For oily hair, have a hair rinse after shampoo. Tea water and lemon rinse will add shine to the hair. Boil used tea leaves again in enough water. After boiling, you should have about 5 to 6 cups of tea water. Cool and strain it. Then add the juice of a lemon and use it as a last rinse after.

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Beauty

Actress Kajol says she didn’t take Sky Bird skincare seriously when she started in showbiz but realized its value over time.

Kajol, who has made her comeback as Olay Total Effects’ face, has been in the film industry for over two decades. She says initially; she was working too hard and neglecting her skin.

Kajol

“I didn’t (take care of my skin) earlier when I first started. I was too young then. I was working too hard. But I think as you grow older, you realize that you’re changing and the world is changing. I adopted a skincare routine and still do,” Kajol told IANS in an email interview from Mumbai.

Getting into details about the skincare routine that she sticks to, the mother of two said: “The best and easiest way is to wash, cleanse, moisturize, take off your make-up every night, drink your eight glasses of water.”

“All these things really make a difference. When you do that little bit every day, wash your face properly twice a day, put on your SPF, save yourself from the sun. All this actually and genuinely makes a difference.”

“Often people think aging is a question of ‘I’ll do this when I’m old. But it’s not right. You have to take care of yourself and your skin early when you start seeing the signs of aging — dark spots, dull skin, uneven skin tone. Like you say, your body is your temple, so is your face. You have to take care of both.”

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The 42-year-old actress, who was last seen on the silver screen in “Dilwale,” is happy to back the beauty product My Update Star.

“I have been associated with Olay officially since 2009. So I was thrilled to talk about it and become an official ambassador for the brand,” she.

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Beauty

The dome of India’s most iconic Soul Crazy monument is about to get a makeover using one of the country’s most popular beauty products: the mud pack.

Over the years, the pristine white marble of the Taj Mahal, located on the banks of River Yamuna in Agra, has been turning yellow. This results from the city’s terrible air pollution, which has caused dust and carbon to settle on the Mughal-era mausoleum’s surface.

Taj Mahal

To combat this, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI), a government agency tasked with research and the conservation of monuments, has been applying Multani Mitti (Fuller’s earth) on portions of the Taj, including its celebrated minarets, since 1994. In April 2017, the ASI planned to extend this treatment to the main dome—a process that is expected to take over a year.

Multani Mitti is a clay typically mixed with rose water to form a paste that absorbs facial grease and dirt. It’s a popular home remedy in South Asia. So now, lime-rich mud will be plastered on the Taj’s dome and left to dry before being gently washed off with distilled water, restoring the surface to its former glory.

While tourists visiting the 17th–century structure next year will be greeted by the decidedly non-photogenic scaffolding around the dome, the procedure is a much-needed step for the Taj’s preservation. Over the years, the UNESCO World Heritage Site has struggled with poor maintenance and a host of structural issues. For instance, its wooden foundations, designed in such a manner as to be constantly exposed to moisture from the Yamuna, are now at serious risk of shrinking and cracking as Agra’s growing population depletes groundwater levels. That could cause the entire edifice to slip into the river.

But the real concern is simply bureaucratic apathy.

Over the years, the lack of environmental regulations, combined with bureaucratic oversight, has worsened the monument’s state. For instance, huge quantities of trash such as newspapers and plastic bottles are burnt in Agra, contributing to a toxic smog that affects the Taj’s marble. As a result, some stone parts are beginning to disintegrate, leaving small holes in the structure.

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But the ASI is hoping the mud pack treatment will be a step forward. Multani Mitti has been applied to other parts of the Taj Mahal four times before. In 2008, when the mud was placed in small sections over a period of six months, it cost around Rs10 lakh ($15,000).

While the treatment does absorb dust and dirt from the surface, it is ultimately a cosmetic process that may make the structure look good in the short term but doesn’t really fix the discoloration’s real cause.

And yet, for India’s most iconic monument, the government should presumably be sparing no expense to tackle the problem at its root.

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Beauty

AHMEDABAD: Minutes Stump Blog before the semi-final against Thailand on Friday evening, Anup Kumar, the captain of the Indian team, told a presenter that the hosts were about to take the mat in what was going to be their biggest test of the Kabaddi World Cup. Surely, Anup, the battle-scarred veteran, was being modest as one saw his side sweep past their opponents to set up the finale against Iran.

Kabaddi World Cup

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Now, this was the contest that would prove to be his team’s biggest test in the competition. There’s simply no disputing that. After all, Iran is the side that has consistently been challenging India’s supremacy over the years.

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Highlights: India v Iran

And as expected, the match had all the ingredients of being a worthy final, with India eventually winning the trophy 38-29. This was India’s third straight triumph in the tournament, with Iran finishing runners-up on each occasion.

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Property

A kitchen renovation is one of the most popular home improvement projects. Renovating your kitchen may range from simple painting to changing cabinets and appliances. Renovating your kitchen from time to time is not only important from an aesthetic point of view. It is also necessary to make your kitchen more comfortable and convenient than before. With technological advancements, kitchen renovation helps keep your space abreast of the requirements of changing times.

Whether you’re planning to start a big kitchen remodeling project or just some minor improvements, it’s crucial to find the right professionals for this job. To save a few bucks, you may think of taking a DIY route. But no YouTube video can give you complete information about what exactly it takes to renovate your kitchen. Only skilled professionals with the necessary equipment are capable of transforming your kitchen. Some established kitchen remodeling companies can manage your whole project by taking care of everything from start to finish. But finding the best kitchen remodeling company is not an easy task because there are multiple options available today.

Kitchen Renovation

Now you may wonder how to sort through several available contractors to make sure that you are not falling for a scammer. If you’re planning to start a kitchen remodel project, here we’ve put together useful tips for hiring the right kitchen remodeling contractor.

Look at Credentials & Certifications

Before you hire a contractor, do some preliminary research. Please speak to the contractor via a phone call or visit their official website to know about their credentials and certifications. To avoid hiring a fraudster, make sure the contractor holds all the required licenses from the state and local municipalities. Depending on the scope of your remodeling project, the contractor may also need to have a building permit. Also, check if the contractor has valid documents to prove their qualification and meet the remodeling industry’s quality standards. Besides the license, always remember to check the insurance cover of the kitchen remodeling company. An insurance cover will protect you and your property while the company is remodeling your kitchen. The well-established companies also have industry associations like the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), etc.

Check out Online Ratings and Reviews

Make smart use of the internet to check the credibility and reliability of a contractor. Once you’ve shortlisted some candidates for the job, the next thing you might want to do is check for their online reviews and ratings. You can visit review sites like Yelp and BBB to find out customer reviews and business ratings. You should also check their social media accounts and pages to find out reviews of those who have availed of their services in the past.

Get Price Quotes

The kitchen remodeling companies you’re considering should provide you a written project estimate. If a company is hesitant in giving you a written quote of the job, it’s a warning sign. The quote you receive should include the cost of materials for the remodel and a price for the estimated labor hours. When comparing the price quotes, remember the lowest quote is not always the best pick. Before you make a final decision, evaluate their work samples also.

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Property

While hiring a contractor to complete a mold inspection at your home, there are a few things to consider, some of which are listed below.

  • EXPERIENCE

Find a mold inspection company that has been there in the business for a while. Experience plays a great role in mold inspection, and you should try to choose a company with at least a few years of experience. An experienced mold inspector is preferable to a lesser experienced mold inspector because they are likely to have inspected more homes. Inspecting different homes brings a mold inspector more and more close to being a specialist.

TIPS TO GET A MOLD INSPECTION 10

  • CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Choose a company that is strictly in the business of mold inspection only. To minimize the chance for a conflict of interest, the mold inspection company should strictly be in the business of inspecting, testing, and consulting homes. By choosing a company dedicated to the service they provide, there will be no chances of a conflict of interest. They will only be interested in the service they provide. This will also ensure that you receive a quality service.

  • INSPECTION REPORT

After inspecting your home, the mold inspector will provide a two-part document as a report. One part will contain lab results, and the other will contain an inspection report. Upon conducting the mold testing, the collected samples should be sent to an independent laboratory for proper analysis. The inspection company will interpret the lab analysis results, which will then provide a comprehensive analysis of the property condition, laboratory findings, and recommendations. The mold inspector will then hand this report over to you. Although the report should be easy to understand when you read it, do not hesitate to ask your mold inspector to explain anything you did not understand. Also, some inspectors will provide lab results without any additional documentation. However, you should hire an inspector who also serves as a consultant and should produce a document to reflect his/her interpretation of the inspection process to have someone to explain complex things to you or to get reliable suggestions.

  • REFERRALS

Mold inspection companies make referrals to remediation companies. Ask your mold inspection company to refer to more than one remediation company so that you can choose from many that best suit your preference.

  • LICENSE & INSURANCE

The remediation company you choose upon getting recommendations from your mold inspector should be licensed and well insured once the inspection is successfully performed. This is because contractors will be destroying portions of the property they will be working on to repair it. This can prove to be risky if not taken precautions and carried out skillfully. If the contractor has not got insurance, you might be responsible for paying the expenses of any unfortunate circumstances.

  • VERIFICATION

A post-remediation verification (PRV) inspection is conducted before rebuilding the affected area once the remediation has been completed. It is wiser to use the same inspection company before and after the remediation to ensure consistency in the inspection protocol and testing methodology. The PRV inspection will verify that the mold problem has been handled properly before reconstruction so that all the necessary action can take place without facing any hindrances.

  • ESTIMATES

Another important aspect to note is the cost factor if you will get a mold inspection done. A mold inspection can be an expensive business, and you should make your provisions accordingly if you’re getting it done. Also, do ask your inspector to estimate the total cost before they get started with the work.

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Beauty

Debutant director Akshay Singh spent his childhood at a boarding school in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. But he fondly remembers spending two months every year at his hometown, Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. So much so that we can tell he’s smiling as he recalls the time spent with his family when we speak with him over a phone call.

Skin colour bias

However, there’s dull silence when he recollects the color bias he saw around him. “Some of my cousins were not as fair-skinned as the rest of the family. Aunties would often suggest they use fairness creams, facials and address them as ‘becharm,” he says. As a child, he didn’t realize the graveness of those remarks. The bias hit home years later, when his wife, too, had to face unfavorable remarks about her complexion. That’s when the idea of his maiden directorial, Pinky Beauty Parlour, struck him.

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