Cuttack, Dec. 24: Concern over increasing cases of mental illness and dearth of psychiatrists in the state spurred the inauguration of a centre of excellence at the Mental Health Institute in SCB Medical College and Hospital here today.

The prevalence of mental illness in the state had been estimated at 5 per cent of the total population. However, nearly 20 per cent could be suffering from different degrees of mental disorder at any point of time if all factors of mental health were taken into account, said hospital sources.

Inaugurating the eight-storey building of the institute, state health minister Pradip Kumar Amat said the centre would pave the way for manpower development, which had become imperative in view of the rising , hoping that it helped in dealing with the load of casesspiritual the , male ward, emergency ward, laboratory, chambers for doctors and nurses duty room (second floor), gents hostel, dining hall, guest room (sixth floor) <>and auditorium, conference hall, lobby and guest room under the 11th five-year plan. Accordingly, the Centre had sanctioned Rs 30 crore in 2009-10.

Institute sources said psychiatric ailments were not restricted to the state's urban areas. However, a system is yet to be evolved to monitor, detect and treat people suffering from mental illness in rural areas.

At present, there are psychiatrists at three medical college hospitals in Cuttack, Burla and Berhampur. But only four of the total 30 district headquarters hospitals have psychiatrists - at Baripada, Balangir, Koraput and Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar.