Delhi govt's next step: Happiness Therapy for patients in hospitals
New Delhi: After 'Happiness Curriculum' at Delhi government run schools, Delhi Health department is relying on "Happiness Therapy" for improving overall outcome for patient-care in Delhi government hospitals. The health minister Satyendar Jain on Thursday inaugurated the new concept for the speedy recovery and better healing of the patients admitted at the Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) hospital. This new concept will be introduced in all Delhi government hospitals for admitted patients except in ICU and Emergency wards. "The new therapy will help quick healing and better bonding between patients and hospitals staff, however, this new therapy will not be introduced in Intensive Care Unit and Emergency wards of the Delhi government run hospitals," said the statement.
Making the announcement, Jain said, "Happiness Therapy involving medical staff and patients in group dance will help in better healing, speedy recovery, increased harmony and bonding between the staff and patients."
The minister said, "Happiness Therapy in all Delhi govt hospitals will include Dance, Music and Songs, Meditation, Yoga and Laughter under proper supervision." Various types of diseases like cancers, infections, injuries, developmental disorders, hypertension, diabetes, etc., have direct and negative impact on the mental health of the patients.
All these diseases are capable of causing variable degree of depression in human beings. While significant progress has been made in treating these ailments by various drugs, however the associated unhappiness, depression, dissatisfaction, mental tension etc., generally do not allow the patients and their family members to come back their original status early.
In order to positively impact these aspects of mental stress of patients, various forms of wellness therapies such as Yoga, inspirational talks, dance and music can be utilised. This is a pre-tested idea which is also being followed in many other countries such as the United States and Brazil.
In the US, dance therapy for children and elderly patients with dementia and Parkinson's disorder is used very often in few centres. In the GTB Hospital, this new idea has been added as Happiness Therapy as a part of developing this hospital as the friendliest (to the patients) hospital under the Delhi Government.
The GTB Hospital chose to utilise the music and dance therapy for its simplicity and ease of connectivity with patients willfully participating (as best as they can) or while being a spectator alone.
In the GTB Hospital, all care is being taken to ensure that the patients are safe and physically good enough to appreciate or participate as per their willingness, consent and ability. Further, guidelines are being developed to ensure no harm is done to these or other recuperating patients. The patient and their attendants have appreciated this initiative.
