Fear and depression after dog biteImage Credit Source: Getty Images
Dog bite mental health effects: Recently, the Supreme Court changed its instructions of August 11 with stray dogs in Delhi-NCR. Now non-invasive, steriliz and waxinated dogs can be released again in the same areas from where they were caught. Also, they were asked to determine the places fixed for their food. Animal Rights Activists have described it as a human and balanced step. But mental health experts say that mental health was completely ignored in this decision.
The Supreme Court has taken a very tough stance in the country regarding dogs, in which the increasing cases of aggressive behavior of dogs and increasing rabies were taken into consideration. If the dog bites, then the first fear is of rabies. The fear of rabies is not unnecessary, because once the rabies has become and the symptoms start appearing, then treatment is not possible. Along with this, the risk of many mental illnesses also increases. Understand from experts what mental illnesses can be at risk after dog bites.
Rabies cases
Rabies is a deadly disease in which every year About 18 to 20 thousand people in India lose their livesExperts say that the effect of dog bites is not only limited to physical illness, but it can also leave a deep injury to human mental health. If this aspect is ignored, then a new mental health epidemic can be born in the society. Therefore, do not consider the bite of dogs as limited to rabies, but consider it as a holistic health problem.
37 lakh people victims of dog bites
IHBAS And Nimhans Like an institution has told in its research that every year in India 37 lakh people victims of dog bites Are This means that every day about 10 thousand people struggle with this problem. In any country, when dog bites and increasing dangers of rabies are discussed, only focus is on vaccination, wound cleaning and rescue of rabies. When the dog bites a person, then many types of fear arise in the victim about dogs, due to which mental troubles start increasing.
Mental problem after dog bite
Which mental illness after dog bites
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)- Psychiasts say that after dog bites, people often fall prey to serious mental illnesses like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Especially children and the elderly are more affected.
- Cynophobia- There is often a deep fear of dogs in children. This fear in children reaches scary dreams. Children are also afraid to go to school or get out of the house.
- Anxiety and Dipression- Concern starts increasing among elders. Along with this, depression starts and social isolation means that people also start distance from people. This becomes even more difficult for the elderly, because they lose their confidence and freedom to walk without fear.
- Mental trauma (trauma)- Sometimes this mental trauma (trauma) appears even more deeply. Some people begin to behave dysoctive episodes (such as feeling different from reality) or aggressive. This situation becomes stressful for both the patient and his family.
It is important to focus on mental health
In dog bites incidents 26.5% increase between 2022 and 2023 Has happened In such a situation, it is important that the government and health institutions should not be limited to injections and vaccines, but also strengthen mental health support system. There should be a system of counseling in schools, hospitals and mohallas so that the victims do not live in loneliness and fear.
How this decision related to One Health Principle
Without any fixed standard, just assuming that a dog is non-invasive can be a danger bell for the victims. For those who have been bitten by dogs, the same dogs living in the same locality can revive the trauma again. Actually, this problem is related to One Health Principle. That is, the health of humans, animals and environment is associated with each other. It is as important as preventing diseases like rabies, it is as important to identify and treat mental illnesses after dog bites.