Union minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya underscored the importance of family, friends and relatives in having a good mental health. Speaking at the World Mental Health Day function organised at NIMHANS in Bengaluru today, the minister stressed that our traditional family system, festivals and puja gatherings are means to having a good mental health. He regretted that changing family structures and lifestyles have increased mental stress in the society.<br />'' <br />''The minister emphasized on the role that institutions such as NIMHANS can play an important role in addressing the mental health issues in the society. AIR Bengaluru Correspondent reports that the Union Health Minister has said that the professional institutions such as NIMHANS can act like a bridge between the society and the Government by suggesting mechanisms to make people more aware of the need to take care of mental health. He noted that the stigma attached with mental health prevents people from approaching the psychologists and psychiatrists and hence the students and faculty in NIMHANS must approach the society and create awareness about the need to cope up with anxiety and stress.<br />'' <br />''<span style="color: #222222;">Speaking on the occasion the Health minister in the state Dr. Sudhakar informed that NIMHANS has counselled 24 lakh people facing anxiety due to Covid during the pandemic. He informed that one in seven persons in India have mental health issues.</span><br />