MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS CAMP ORGANIZED AT BANARHAT

By Atish Sen (TNI Banarhat)

Webdesk, TNI Banarhat, 15^th March, 2016: A mental health awareness camp was held at the Banarhat High School on Tuesday. Under the auspices of the National Mental Health Programme, the Department of Psychiatry (North Bengal Medical College and Hospital) counseled the teachers about their mental health and the students were made aware of the various psychological problems and its solution. The spokespersons included clinical Psychologist Smt. Aditi Mazumder (NBU), psychiatric and social worker Smt. Vaishali Roy and the event moderator Smt. Sulabh Sarkar. Smt. Roy said that a person can be considered completely healthy only when s/he is both mentally and physically fit. We are aware of the extent of physical illness but the same can’t be said of our awareness of mental health. We do not give importance to mental illness and in trying to hide the same, make matters worse. We hesitate to seek expert advice when faced with mental health issues. This awareness camp was aimed at overcoming this hesitation. Ms. Mazumder said that their aim is to reach those places that lack mental health awareness and to provide free assistance to those patients who cannot afford the same. In addition to this, they also aspire to visit schools and colleges in order to discuss mental health issues and related solutions with the teachers and students alike to help raise awareness about mental health. Mr. Sukalyan Bhattacharya (Principal, Banarhat High School) said that after talking to the experts at the event, he and the other teachers have learnt several new things that would help them run their school smoothly in the future equipped with a better understanding of the mental state of the adolescents.

Edited By: Jonali Karmakar (TNI Siliguri)
Photo: Atish Sen (TNI)