Apollo Children’s Hospital has launched the Apollo Paediatric Psychiatry Liaison & Education department (APPLE), India’s first Paediatric Liaison Psychiatry Department in Chennai. The department was inaugurated by Ms. B. Priyanka Pankajam IAS., Executive Director Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women in the presence of Dr. Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group, Ms. Suneeta Reddy, Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group and Ms. Gouri G Kishan, popular cine artiste. As a part of the event, Master AR Illamparuthi, under 14 world Youth Chess Champion was honoured and felicitated for his achievements.
The unique aspect of the department of ‘APPLE’ – Apollo Paediatric Psychiatry Liaison & Education is the presence of a Liaison Psychiatrist in the entire treatment process of paediatric patients, who would focus on the various mind-related issues while the body of a child heals. Moreover, it also focusses on many conditions which do not have a physiological or pathological reasoning which could be attributed to mental well-being.
Speaking during the inauguration, Ms. Suneeta Reddy, Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “Good health and wellbeing are holistic in nature involving the mind and the body. When it comes to treating illnesses, we often focus on the body and underestimate the importance of mental wellbeing in the process of healing. Conventionally, this aspect is left to the family to deal with, which is extremely hard especially when the child is going through an illness. It’s for this reason that Apollo Children’s Hospitals is launching a one-of-its-kind Paediatric Liaison Psychiatry Department. We are extremely happy to launch this novel department on Children’s Day”.
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