Kohima district administration, in collaboration with the District Hub for Empowerment of Women (DHEW) Kohima, Mission Shakti organised a programme on mental health awareness cum counselling session for students and teachers under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) on March 20 at Sechü Zubza Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS).
A press release by DHEW Kohima informed that during the programme, the district coordinator, Child Helpline, District Child Protection Unit Kohima, Rhietuohunuo Whuorie, gave an introduction to Child Helpline 1098, saying that it is a national toll-free helpline for children in difficulty situations.
She cited how the helpline caters to all kinds of children in distress, dealing with missing children, lost and found, runaways, sexual, physical and emotional abuse of children. Whuorie said the child helpline works with allied departments like district administration, labour department, medical department, police department, NGOs etc., and urged all the concerned citizens to dial the helpline number for any children in distress. Speaking on “mental health awareness cum counselling session for students and teachers”, Child Helpline, District Child Protection Unit, Kohima, counsellor, Mhaseto Rhakho, said mental health issues do not discriminate and can affect individuals of all ages, genders and ethnicities.
He further explained at length the symptoms and factors affecting mental health and how schools could play an important role in mental health services. On counselling, Rhakho stated that it is a means which could help an individual to find purpose and lead a better and healthy life. He also stressed the importance and types of counselling and how students can seek counselling. The programme was chaired by Sechü Zubza GHSS teacher, Puotounguno Pier, and the concluding remark was given by Sechü Zubza GHSS vice principal, Lhoukuo Chüsi.