GUWAHATI, Oct 12 - With an aim to make society sensitive towards �people with mental health problems� and remove the stigma towards this cause, Ashadeep, an NGO working in the field of mental illness, has launched a month-long programme to observe �World Mental Health Day�.
The major activities undertaken by Ashadeep consist of various contests providing a platform to bright youngsters to showcase their creativity and sensitise the people on mental health. Keeping this in mind, it organised competitions among college and university students in the categories of poetry writing, poster making and photography on the theme �Dignity in mental health�.
In this connection, a panel discussion on the theme was organised at Shraddhanjali Kanan here on Saturday evening, in which Dr Sangeeta Goswami, counselling psychologist and president of Mind India; Dr Malaya Goswami, renowned actress; Hemen Das, film director and writer; Dr Gayatree Goswamee, Department of Education, Gauhati University; Dr Indrani Phookan Barua, professor of psychology, Gauhati University; Dr PK Thakuria, senior psychiatrist, Gauhati Medical College and Padma Shree Mukul Goswami, secretary, Ashadeep, took part.
Students from 11 educational institutions participated in the interactive session of the discussion.
Some burning issues concerning mental health, such as suicidal tendencies among youths, need for mental health counsellors at educational institutions, required change of mindset of the society, and what an individual could do for promoting mental health awareness in civil society, were taken up at the panel discussion, said a statement. The discussion was moderated by Nurul Islam.
