Background: COVID-19 pandemic is a novel viral illness due to which an uncertainty has developed among the general public as well as the health care workers (HCWs) regarding the future of mankind. This has resulted in burnout among the HCWs which has been reported by researchers from different parts of the world. Method: A cross sectional study was done among health care workers (faculty members, residents, nurses and interns) working in different specialties of a tertiary care health centre of Northern India. A self-designed performa containing sociodemographic details along with “Burnout Self-Test” scale was used to obtain the prevalence of burnout among HCWs. Result: Among 192 participants, the signs of burnout were found in 148 participants (77.1%) and most had mild burnout 90 (46.88). Conclusion: Burnout amongst health care workers is high particularly in unmarried and female HCWs.

WHO data on global burden of diseases says that mental illnesses accounts for over 15 percent of the total burden of disease. This study was planned to describe the common psychiatric disorders and various sociodemographic variables associated among patients attending psychiatry Out Patient Department (OPD) at a tertiary care psychiatric hospital of a northern state of India. This was a cross sectional record-based study. Psychiatric diagnosis was made according to International Classification of Diseases classification -10. In our study we analysed data of 153 patients who were first time registered in OPD of HHMH&R Shimla in last one year. We found that most of patients were in age group of 18-40years of age (51.0%) and 73.2% patients were males. In our study we observed that 55.6% patients were married, 32.0% were single and 12.4% were separated. In our findings most of patients (39.2%) had no history of co-morbid substance abuse however most common co-morbid substance abuse was both cannabis and tobacco. Schizophrenia was the most common psychiatric illness found in our study. Mental health disorders were found majorly in younger, unemployed males. While forming mental health policies Government should take these findings in consideration.

Background: Suicide is the result of an act deliberately initiated and performed by a person in the full knowledge or expectation of its fatal outcome. Suicide attempts are a significant public health problem. The present study aimed to explore the variousclinical characteristics of suicideattempters in a tertiary care hospital of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, a northern state of India.Methods: We conducted a descriptive study among patients with attempted suicide to the department of Psychiatry, Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) Shimla. A structured, self-designed interview schedule and short-form revised Eyseneck personality questionnaire-Hindi (EPQRS-H) was used for data collection. Data was analyzed using Epi info software v 7.2.0.Results: There were total 77 participants in the study out of which 44 (57.1%) were females. Mean age (Standard deviation) of participants was 30.8 years (9.9 years). Relationship problems were the most common (48.1%) recent life event followed by health events (28.6%). Depression was found to be the most common diagnosis (62.3%). Pesticide consumption was the method of attempting suicide in 72.7% of females compared to 66.7% of males.Conclusions: Recent major life events especially relationship problems may lead to majority of suicide attempts. There is urgent need to focus on patients suffering from depression by health personnel as well as family members. The sale of the pesticides should be regulated to keep in check the misuse of the same.

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