Guwahati, October 14 (MExN): The Press Information Bureau, Guwahati organised a webinar on ‘COVID-19 and its Stress Management for Youth of North East,’ with experts from the medical fraternity, government sector and academicians on October 13.
According to a PIB release, discussions during the webinar were focused on COVID situation from medical and policy perspective. It also highlighted that stress management among youth with constructive behaviour and attitude change are essential to tackle COVID-19 issues.
Padma Shri Naresh Chander Lal said that leading a disciplined life is the best way to tackle the issues related to COVID. He said that a healthy diet and hygiene are important aspects when it comes to preventing and protection from COVID issues while emphasising on the child's health care and stress management. He said that children should be encouraged to do activities and hobbies they enjoy, so that depression, stress and loneliness could be tackled.
Prof Dr KRS SambasivaRao, Vice Chancellor, Mizoram University, said that healthy and constructive behaviour of students, particularly the child's emotional health is vital for cognitive development. He said that technology is changing the perception of learning and it has to be used as leverage for development of children. Dr Rao said that education is the development of latent talent of students and in that endeavour, an attitude change is essential to tackle COVID-19 issues and stress among the youth. He said that emotions and stress are likely to affect children with cognitive disabilities also. While not every child or adult would react in the same way to the stress of COVID-19, he opined that it is likely that everyone would respond in some way and parents have to see that children do not digress from normal daily routine and lead a constructive life.
Focusing on nutrition, Dr Lopamudra Datta, Principal, Guru Nanak Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, said that stress management is also about proper diet and healthy food. Dr Datta said that children should be encouraged to talk to their friends and parents so that anxiety and stress is reduced, while also underscoring the importance of quality family time and proper motivation when it comes to stress management among youth.
Prof Arjun Das, Assistant Professor, Department of Mass Communication, Nagaland University, and Abdul Rahman Mallick, Advocate, Delhi High Court said that stress among youth could be tackled with patient listening and whereby, parents help their children to tell their problems.
Prof Anumita Mallick, Faculty, Department of Nutrition, Belda College, Paschim Medinipur said most of issues of youth are psychological and child apprehensions are because of lack of communication. Prof Mallick said that stress is leading youth, especially children to become anxious, emotionally demotivated and fearful of interactions. This, in turn, affects their development and eventually their personality, she added.
Arjuna Awardee Chekrovolu Swuro said that courage and disciplined life could help tackle most of the issues related to COVID. She urged the youth to utilise their time doing activities they enjoy doing while emphasising that basic precautions like social distancing, washing with soap and wearing protective gear are also essential aspects for tackling COVID.
The Webinar was managed and coordinated bySamrat Bandyopadhyay, Joint Director (M & C), PIB, Guwahati. Pallav Chakravorty, Deputy Director, PIB welcomed the experts and the interactive Webinar witnessed enthusiastic participation of students, academicians and medical fraternity of Assam and other places, the release stated.
Along with students, eminent journalists and other government senior officials from Doordarshan Guwahati, Regional Outreach Bureau, Guwahati, All India Radio Guwahati were also present on the occasion, it added.
