Experts stress mental health awareness

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ITANAGAR: New Delhi-based National Tribal Research Institute (NTRI)'s special director Dr Nupur Tiwari on Monday stressed on the need for understanding the concept of tribal health traditionally and the awareness on mental health.

Addressing a day-long workshop on 'mental health and help seeking behaviour' here, Dr Tiwari described the socio-geographical factors that have shaped the mental health culture among the tribal population.

She was speaking on the theme 'mental health in tribal populations'.

The workshop, jointly organized by the Anthropology department of Dera Natung Government College (DNGC) here and Tribal Research Institute (TRI) of Rajiv Gandhi University, (RGU), was sponsored by the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry and State Social Justice, Empowerment and Tribal Affairs (SJETA) department.

Dr Bikash Bage, nodal officer of Tribal Research Institute, talked about the projects undertaken by the institute with the core responsibility to substantiate academic contribution to the policy making, schemes and programmes in the State. SJETA director Yumlam Kaha, in his deliberation, focused on increasing cases of mental health degradation while correlating it with increasing drug addiction among the young population. He also highlighted the awareness on the issue of 'policy paralysis' in the State and laid emphasis on far-sighted ambition among the youth population.

DNGC principal Dr MQ Khan advised the students to be responsive to the increasing distractions and to maintain a disciplined lifestyle for better mental health.

In the technical session, a special lecture was presented by Dr Dharmeshwari Lourembam, Assistant Prof from RGU's Psychology department on 'mental health among students' and the state of well being and also how different factors affect mental health. She also suggested how mental health is important to explore one's ultimate potential. Clinical psychologist from the Pasighat-based Bakin Pertin General Hospital (BPGH), Dr Oyin Mibang spoke on 'Stress Management Techniques and Help seeking'.

She also demonstrated different techniques for stress management. Koj Rinyo, representative of All Arunachal Pradesh Psychological Association, presented her lecture on 'Seeking Professional Help' and talked about the differentiation in the work of mental health care professionals and awareness on the helpline and tele-counseling which is available.

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