Mar Thoma Metropolitan Joseph Marthoma has stressed the need for showing compassion and love for the mentally challenged.
The Metropolitan was inaugurating the World Mental Health Day observance organised by the Kerala chapter of the Indian Association of Private Psychiatry, at the Nakkada Mission Hospital in Thiruvalla on Friday.
He called upon people to include those people who have been suffering from mental illness and their families in their prayers.
The Metropolitan said people should extend all help to the mentally challenged so that they could feel that they were not alone and that they would be wrapped in the love of God.
The Tantri at Thiruvalla Sreevallabha Temple, Akkeeramon Kalidasan Bhattathirppad, delivered the keynote address.
Mr Bhattathirippad said religion and religious leaders should focus on promoting love, friendship, and good relationship among people and to check divisive forces creeping into society.
The society president A.J. John, presided over the function. Dr John spoke on the need and ways to prevent internet addiction among youth and children.
Kurien Oommen, renowned pulmonologist and former District TB Officer; C.R.Radhakrishnan, Joyce Joe, Psychiatrists, and Dr Vasudevan Namboodiri, secretary of Indian Medical Association Thiruvalla unit, also spoke.