DIMAPUR — The District Mental Health Programme (DMHP), Wokha organised a mental health approach through life skills programme for youths at Wokha Town Baptist Church (WTBC) on July 27.
Resource persons for the programme were Amenla Longkumer, clinical psychologist and Lireni Tungoe, psychiatric nurse of DMHP Wokha, stated an update from the CMO Wokha.
In the first session, Lireni Tungoe stated that life skills are the building blocks of one's behaviour and that they need to be learned to have a meaningful life.
Tungoe also explained about the types of stressors which the adolescence experience and the physical and mental symptoms due to stress. She further shared on the techniques to cope with stress. The session concluded with a practical session on deep breathing exercise among the participants.
Amenla Longkumer emphasised on learning of mental health skills through observation, training, practice and the importance of creativity for mental wellbeing.
She encouraged people with mental health concerns not to shy away from seeking professional help. Longkumer also mentioned that gratitude is a powerful human emotion as it releases dopamine and serotonin, the two crucial neurotransmitters responsible for our emotions, leading to happiness and peace.
She informed the participants to avail the assistance of mental health experts by contacting the Tele-Manas toll free number-14416.
More than 94 youths participated in the programme.
Earlier, a similar programme on life skills for caregivers was organised at Dr. Motsuo Memorial District Hospital, Wokha by DMHP Wokha on July 18 with retired psychiatrist Dr. Phyobemo Ngullie as the resource person.
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Dr. Ngullie spoke on the practical skills and techniques in dealing with the psychiatric patients of different nature and shared several success stories of his patients and how they are now leading normal lives.
Asserting that mental illness can be treated and prevented, he encouraged the caregivers to disseminate information on mental health among the public.
Psychiatric social worker DMHP, Nrithung Philip talked about the stigma attached to mental illness and challenges faced by the caregivers in the community.
IEC materials and posters on mental health were distributed to more than 18 participants who attended the programme.