Mokokchung, July 23 (MExN): The Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in association with Alempang Baptist Church organized a one day workshop and sensitization programme on mental health issues at the Gilgal Hall, Alempang Baptist Church, Mokokchung on July 22. It was well attended by the Church members, Church youth group, NGOs, representatives from social organizations, representatives of various Nodal departments and stakeholders.
The workshop specially focused on understanding, identifying and discussing the real issues and aspects of the mental health situation in Nagaland and to draw out a Plan of Action for Nagaland on Mental Health-Group Activity, according to a press release received here.
NALSA (Legal Services to the Mentally Ill and Mentally Disabled Persons) Scheme, 2015 and its various provisions and aspects of the scheme were presented by Nino Iralu, Member Secretary, Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (Department of Law & Justice). Iralu stated that the various nodal departments/agencies and government departments need to coordinate and collaborate for proper implementation and visibility of the scheme to the masses.
Dr. Yanger, District Immunization Officer, Mokokchung and Nodal Officer for the District Mental Health Program presented the status of mental health services in the State. He emphasized on the importance and need to identify persons suffering from mental illness, who are silently kept at home in isolation, so they can be treated with proper care and medication under the District Mental Health Program. Dr. Yanger further expressed concerns over the distribution and status of mental health patients across the States. The State is yet to conduct a proper survey and research; hence, no clear picture of the mental health patient status could be drawn out as of now, he stated.
The District Mental Health Program in Nagaland launched under the National Mental Health Program covers two districts of Dimapur and Mokokchung as pilot districts. In Mokokchung, the mental health care is set up and fully functional and runs with sufficient staff, trained in specialized field. The Program aims for early detection and treatment of mental health patients at village and community level, it was informed. A vocational training center for the mental health care workers and a day care center is also set up at Impur.
Dr. Yanger also remarked that the level of awareness on mental illness among the common people is very poor and social stigma is prevalent. The District Mental Health program has already adopted the Information Education Communication (IEC) model for creating awareness at the village and community level. However, he expressed disappointment over the low turnout of patients in the health care centers. Pointing out that awareness programme has to be organised in various levels targeting various sections and groups of society such as the church bodies, schools, teachers and NGOs, Dr. Yanger also urged the relatives and family of mentally ill persons to obtain Disability Certificate which can help the patients in availing government benefits and schemes. Further, he emphasized on publicizing the provisions in the Mental Health Act 1987 Act, which, he said, needs to be widely circulated at community and village level.
Avuda, Imchawati, Managing Director, Care & Support Society (CSS), Yupanger, Educational Block Research Center (EBRC), Mokokchung shared their experiences in mental health issues. Imchawati presented the various aspects of the functioning of CSS and also highlighted its Community Based Rehabilitation Program for persons with disability. Yupanger highlighted the functions and roles of EBRC through which specialized education is provided to persons with disability, including mentally disabled, at primary level.
Meanwhile, Dr. Bijoy Jacob, MS ANTARA, Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center, Kolkata, presented on ‘Mental health: Cause and effect’ and highlighted the effect and impact of mental illness on family and social life. Mahendra Singh M Sengar, Convenor, North East for Child Rights convened the session for preparation of Plan of Action on Mental Health-Group Activity.
