Coimbatore is the third largest city in Tamil Nadu and is surrounded by the Western Ghats. It’s situated on the banks of the river Noyyal. It was ranked the best emerging city in India in a survey by India Today.
A major hub for manufacturing, education, and healthcare in the state, Coimbatore is among the fastest growing Tier 2 cities in India.
History:
The region around Coimbatore was ruled by the Cheras between the 1st and 4th century AD. After being ruled by the Cholas and Vijayanagara empire and the kingdom of Mysore during different times, the area was taken over by the British in 1799. In 1804 the city of Coimbatore was established as the capital of the district of the same name.
People:
The people of Coimbatore are known for their entrepreneurial spirit. The city has a literacy rate of 89.23%. The city’s population of 2.7 million people is primarily composed of Hindus and has a minority population of Christians, Muslims, Jains, and Sikhs.
Culture:
Tamil is the official language and a dialect known as Kongu Tamil is spoken here. A conservative city composed predominantly of Tamilians is experiencing an influx of migrants. This is beginning to diversify the cultural landscape of the city. 83% of the population follow Hinduism while Christians and Muslims form the religious minorities.
Economy:
Coimbatore is called the Manchester of South India because of its extensive textile industry which is fed by the surrounding cotton fields. There are several large, medium, and small scale textile mills in the city. The city has more than 25, 000 manufacturing industries of various sizes.
Mental Health:
- There has been a steady rise in psychiatric issues in the population and an increase in the number of suicides. This has prompted demand for a government mental health hospital in the city.
- The district mental health program implemented by the government has increased awareness among the public and encourages them to seek help for mental health issues.
- According to the national mental health survey of India 2015-16, 150 million Indians suffer from mental distress and are in need of intervention.
- According to WHO, 56 million Indians suffer from depression and another 38 million Indians suffer from anxiety disorders.
TalkItOver offers professional counseling services in the city of Coimbatore and in other major Indian cities.
