Ann Arbor Marathi Mandal

In every country, in every culture and in every ethnic population a number of diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, liver cirrhosis, etc. are common. The patients suffering from these diseases receive medical attention and treatment. The society at large and close family members of patients with these types of diseases do their best to comfort and treat the patients. No stigma is attached to those who suffer from these diseases. 

However, there are other types of disorders or diseases such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, HIV infection are not easily accepted as medical problems and persons afflicted from these types of disorders are many times rejected and neglected by the society as well as by the relatives and friends. Because of such neglect the patients live a very miserable life and are lost in the society which should take care of such unfortunate individuals. 

The Indian population in USA and Canada is not immune from these types of afflictions.  For example approximately one percent of the Indian population suffers from schizoaffective disorders. A significant number also suffer from alcoholism, substance abuse and other similar problems. In India, even now, persons suffering from such disorders are either rejected by the society or they are forgotten and receive very little attention for their medical and rehabilitation needs.

In the past BMM has not discussed this important issue, and how the Indian population in general and Maharashtrian population in particular are being affected by these diseases, and how they are coping with the problems created when one of the family members suffers from such disorders. However, during the 2011 convention in Chicago BMM, a 90 minute forum has been organized, during which a group of experts from medical, social and other areas will try to provide information and guidance on this important issue.

The following are the current panel members: Atul R. Mahableshwarkar MD, former Director of Mental Health Services for the North Chicago VA Medical Center and Associate

Chairman of Psychiatry for the Chicago Medical School, Dr. Jagannath Wani (Calgary, Canada) who has done fabulous work in rehabilitation of schizophrenic patients in Canada and in India, Ms. Nisha Chhabra, a journalist, who has written extensively on the mental illness in Indian immigrants in USA, and Dr. Aparna Kalbag, Office of Global Health, UMDNJ - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, an experienced research worker in assessing culturally-appropriate treatment for South Asians with mental illness. An effort is being made to invite family members of those who suffer from such diseases as participants. 

For further information or questions, please contact: Professor Balwant N. Dixit, University of Pittsburgh, either by e- mail at (bdixit@pitt.edu) or by telephone at (412) 963-8023 (voice).

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