‘With the continuous struggle, Nagas have also paid a heavy price especially on their mental health’
Morung Express News
Kohima | August 6
Discoursing on the Naga struggle, and the often forgotten traumas that Nagas went through, the fourth edition of the Global Shapers Kohima Hub’ Story Nights was held on August 5 at Pagebreak Café, Crossword, Kohima with noted Psychiatrist and Social Activist, Dr. P. Ngully.
“Knowing yourself is very important, to contribute to the world, one must know oneself first,” said Dr. Ngully, starting his story from the history of the Nagas during the advent of British colonizers in Naga Hills. Providing interesting insights on Naga history and the two World Wars which affected the Nagas drastically, Dr. Ngully posited that Nagas have a strong bond to their land. “Because of this bonding to our land, we struggled for self-determination and we still continue to be a struggling people,” he asserted.
However, with the continuous struggle, Nagas have also paid a heavy price especially on their mental health. Any form of conflict can give rise to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), said Dr. Ngully, while citing various studies on mental health, where the fear of pain and distress in conflict has a tendency of being passed on to the next generation.
Memories and the effects of these memories can be continued even in adulthood, according to Dr. Ngully, who also highlighted that PTSD is quite relevant and prevalent in Naga minds. “What your parents go through can be passed on to you, it can be passed on to your children and continue for generations.”
Conflict of any form causes more vulnerability to one’s mental health, further the guilt of survival and the shame of survival is often subtly and unconsciously passed on to the children.
“Trauma can leave behind invisible wounds which can always give rise to anxiety, fear and stress. We continue to suffer from things which we do not see,” Dr Ngully observed.
To move forward collectively from past traumatic memories, sharing of stories especially that of the Naga oral tradition of storytelling is an important healing element. “Oral history is an interface- it gives you a lot of strength.
When you share the fear, it is tolerable. It also strengthens our identity. The stronger our identity, the less threatened we feel of outsiders and more welcoming to outsiders,” remarked Dr. Ngully.
Stressing further on relationships and social connectivity, Dr. Ngully viewed that each Naga has a collective responsibility to move forward progressively. “History defines who we are. Telling stories strengthens our identity. Together we can face the future without fear,” he concluded.
Mental Health in Nagaland: A concern
Discussing on the stigma associated with mental illness in Nagaland, Dr. Ngully shared how the stigma often restricts victims to receive adequate access to mental health services. “People’s attention to mental health is always drawn to extreme cases. As humans, none of us wants to have our sanity challenged,” he remarked, and shared his early experiences of working as a Psychiatrist in Nagaland where most mental health patients were languishing in jails earlier.
“Because of the strong stigma, people do not have access to mental services,” he lamented and emphasised on the crucial need for understanding and acknowledging the pain and suffering that people with mental disorders go through and more importantly treating mental illness as any kind of illness.
Open to all, ‘Story Nights’ is a part of the Global Shapers Kohima Hub’s Café Conversations to revive the age old Naga oral traditions. The event is held once a month at the Cafés of Kohima.
