Our Reporter
Dimapur, Oct. 10 (EMN): Director of Gracious Life Foundation, Lisali M Humtsoe, has urged society at large not to discriminate and stigmatise people living with mental illness, but to help them come back to the society.
She was addressing during the observation of World Mental Health Day organised by Assisi Centre for Integrated Development in collaboration with National Domestic Workers’ Movement (NDWM) Nagaland region on Monday, at Assisi Auditorium, Dimapur.
She shared that in Naga society, many people believe that a mental patient is cursed or possessed. But one should realise that mental illness is like any other physical illness and so a mental patient should be taken to a psychiatrist for treatment instead of prayer centres or other places, Humtsoe said.
She also said that seeking the right treatment is important, and in the meantime everyone should help and support those suffering from mental illness instead of disregarding them.
She cited that some of the factors affecting mental health include family problems, social environment, industry factors, stress, worries and others.
She encouraged the woman folks to connect with family friends and share whatever problems they have instead of keeping within themselves. To have a good mental health, maintain a good relationship with friends and family, she advised.
Director of Prodigal’s Home, K Ela, said everybody, young or old alike, should take care of their mental health. She advised the women present in the programme to be contended and spend time to themselves as stress and worries affect mental health. Women have many responsibilities but they should stay positive because if the mother of the family suffers mentally, then the family will not be a happy family, she shared.