CMHP conducts training for second batch of Anganwadi workers

Anganwadi workers with the resource persons and organisers at the CMHP office in Chümoukedima on February 25.

Anganwadi workers with the resource persons and organisers at the CMHP office in Chümoukedima on February 25.

Dimapur, February 25(MExN): The second batch of 18 Anganwadi workers under Chümoukedima Block were trained and oriented on various topics by staff of Community Mental Health Programme (CMHP) under Prodigals’ Home and Senior Supervisor of Women Helpline 181 Nagaland at Chümoukedima on February 25.

In the first session, resource persons Akovi, Nitoka, Sentimenla, Yangerjungla and K Sani under CMHP, trained the Anganwadi workers on the concept of mental health and mental illnesses such as Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, other psychotic disorders, Depression, Anxiety, Phobias, etc, besides Convulsive Epilepsy and Intellectual Disability.

Anganwadi workers work closely with the community and thus the main objective of the training was to accustom them with the cited illnesses or disorders so that they can easily identify persons with such illnesses or disorders and refer them to CMHP project for treatment and intervention.

In the second session, Chothalu Phesao, Senior supervisor of Women Helpline 181 Nagaland oriented the participants about toll free number 181 which is a 24x7 helpline number specifically for women.

She informed that the helpline number was launched in 2016 in Nagaland and that the helpline number is aimed at providing integrated assistance, medical, legal and psychological assistance to women affected by harassment and violence. She also informed that the 181 helpline number can also be accessed by anyone desirous of knowing about various facilities and schemes for women in the State.

Ending the session, Yangerjungla on behalf of ‘Menstrual Initiative Nagaland’ shared a brief account of the initiative and how it aims to end sanitary pads poverty, break the stigma attached to menstruation and make bio-degradable pads available for all who cannot afford the same. Sanitary pads were also distributed to the participants by the Menstrual Initiative Nagaland.

CMHP Project provides services for persons with the above cited illnesses such as diagnosis and medication by a Consultant Psychiatrist from Guwahati and Clinical Psychologist from CIHSR, Dimapur. Psycho education and follow-ups through structured home visits besides other activities such as training for stakeholders, awareness programs, IEC development, etc are also carried out by the CMHP team.

The CMHP funded by Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives, Bangalore and technically supported by Ashadeep, Guwahati, is currently intervening in all the villages/wards under Chümoukedima Block.