Patna: Mental health experts on Friday stressed the need for stronger family bonds, open communication and freedom from “false needs” to address growing emotional and psychological problems in modern society.Ahead of a two-day national psychotherapy workshop in Patna, psychoanalyst and author Salman Akhtar highlighted socio-cultural changes affecting emotional well-being. He pointed to the stress caused by rapid rural-to-urban migration, saying many semi-urban areas now retain neither the character of villages nor the infrastructure of cities.Akhtar also expressed concern over growing loneliness among children, linking it to the decline of joint families and the rise of single-child households. In India, he said, an entire generation was navigating a cultural identity crisis and heightened stress.The workshop, titled “Understanding emotions: A psychoanalytical approach”, will be held on Sept 5 and 6 under the theme “Circle of Hope”. It will explore emotions such as love, rage, guilt, forgiveness and hope, and their impact on psychological development and relationships.World Psychiatric Association (WPA) South Asia representative Dr Vinay Kumar called for a more humane approach to psychiatric care.“Simply prescribing medicine will not work. Experts must make an effort to listen and understand the story of the person seeking help,” he said.Dr Pankaj of AIIMS Patna said early-career psychiatrists from across India and other parts of South Asia would participate. Dr Astha Sharma said over 300 psychiatrists, mental health practitioners and psychotherapy enthusiasts were expected to attend the workshop.
