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A Call For Disability Inclusion That Must Be Heeded

Syllabus

• GS2: Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Why in the News?

• Recently, the United Nations emphasized the importance of transformative solutions for inclusive development, addressing the needs of persons with disabilities.
• In the field of neuropsychiatry, innovative treatments offer potential improvements in daily activities and quality of life.

Source: Researchgate

Innovations for Enhanced Lives

International Day for Persons with Disabilities

• It has been a month since the commemoration of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities on December 3.
• Despite its passing, it is crucial to emphasize the significance of innovative solutions .
• These solutions aim at improving two key aspects for individuals—daily life activities and overall quality of life.

United Nations’ Call for Transformation

• The United Nations emphasizes the need for transformative solutions in inclusive development, ensuring that no one is left behind.
• This renewed focus highlights the significance of innovations that contribute to reducing disability.

Breakthroughs in Neuropsychiatry

• In the realm of neuropsychiatry, which explores the brain-mind interface, notable treatment innovations have emerged.
• These innovations hold substantial potential for enhancing outcomes and are the focal point of this article.

Understanding Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Broad Spectrum of Impact

• Neuropsychiatric disorders, inherently disabling, manifest throughout an individual’s life journey.
• This spectrum encompasses various conditions, from childhood to old age, significantly affecting global populations.

Childhood Challenges

• In childhood, prevalent disorders include autism, Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and intellectual disabilities, impacting a substantial 317 million young individuals.

Adolescence to Adulthood Struggles

• Transitioning to adolescence and adulthood introduces mental health conditions, affecting 167 million adolescents and 970 million adults worldwide.
• Conditions range from anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder to addiction, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder affect a significant population, totaling 1.14 billion globally.

Lifetime Impact

• Neuropsychiatric challenges persist across the lifespan, embracing traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, epilepsy, headaches, strokes, and neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
• A staggering 276 million individuals globally are affected by these neurological conditions.

Source: WHO

Rehabilitation Gap: A Global Imperative

Overwhelming Demand

• The global burden of neuropsychiatric disorders underscores an extensive need for rehabilitation services.
• As per the World Health Organization’s 2019 Global Burden of Disease study, a staggering 41 billion individuals could benefit from rehabilitation, contributing to 310 million Years of Living with Disabilities (YLD).
• This number witnessed a 63% increase from 1990 to 2019.

Under-Resourced and Overlooked

• Despite the evident benefits for individuals and society, rehabilitation is often overlooked and under-resourced.
• Perceived as a service for a select few, it struggles to secure the priority it deserves in countries worldwide.

Source: Times Of India

Holistic Care Approach

Neuro-Psychiatric Continuum

• The interconnected nature of neurology and psychiatry demands a comprehensive approach to rehabilitation.
• Conditions in these realms often overlap, creating a continuum of needs.
• Instead of narrow, specialist-focused concepts, rehabilitation services should embrace a broader perspective.

Empowering the Community

• Promoting awareness is crucial. Many disabilities can be treated or even reversed.
• It’s essential for communities to understand that enduring disablement is not the only option, fostering a proactive attitude towards rehabilitation.

Recognizing Rehabilitation’s Vital Role

Professional Diversity for Holistic Care

• Rehabilitation extends beyond traditional medical roles.
• Physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, psychologists, and caregivers are integral.
• Encouraging their professional growth, providing training and establishing mainstream career opportunities are essential.

Multidisciplinary and Holistic Approach

• Modern rehabilitation services must adopt a comprehensive model.
• They should involve various professionals, utilize multiple components, and embrace a holistic perspective for effective and inclusive care across diverse healthcare needs.

Harnessing Scientific Breakthroughs for Care

Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation (NIBS)

• Revolutionary techniques like Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) offer non-invasive solutions.
• Widely applicable, rTMS addresses depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Parkinson’s tremors, schizophrenia, addictions, pain management after strokes, traumatic brain injury, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and aggression.

Source: Times of India

Functional Magnetic Stimulation (FMS)

• Complementary to rTMS, FMS contributes to managing pain, spasticity, incontinence, and various disabling neurological symptoms.
• These advancements signify a transformative approach to neurological and mental health rehabilitation, showcasing the potential of modern science in enhancing patient outcomes.

Empowering the Mind: Innovative NIBS Techniques

Transcranial Electrical Stimulation (TES)

• Introducing transcranial electrical stimulation (TES), a promising NIBS technique.
• With sub-types like direct current, alternate current, and random noise, TES proves successful in enhancing memory, cognition, mood, behavior, anxiety, tremors, confusion, delirium, and sleep disorders.
• Its portability and bedside application add to its advantages.

Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (tA-VNS)

• Post-COVID-19, the significance of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (tA-VNS) emerges.
• Initially designed for epilepsy, it’s now under investigation for depression, migraine, and dysautonomia, addressing long COVID-19 symptoms related to vagus nerve abnormalities.

Creating Inclusive Solutions

Global Disability Inclusion

• In a world with a billion people facing disabilities, the United Nations emphasizes disability inclusion as a core aspect of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• With 80% of individuals with disabilities residing in developing countries, the need for inclusive solutions is paramount.

Collaboration for Equity

• In times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, persons with disabilities often face exclusion.
• Collaborative efforts between governments, public and private sectors are essential to develop innovative solutions, fostering a more accessible and equitable world.

Source :

https://depwd.gov.in/

Mains Practice Question

Examine the current state of rehabilitation services for neurological and mental health disorders globally, considering the World Health Organization’s data on disability-related needs.