Dr Bornali Das (MSW, MPhil, PhD), Senior Lecturer, Psychiatric Social Work, Department of Psychiatry, Gauhati Medical College Hospital, Guwahati, Assam and Secretary, Society for Mental Health in LAMIC (SoMHiL) was invited for a two-day workshop on “Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing” held on 19 and 20 April 2017 in Rajiv Gandhi Central University, Doimukh, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh. Dr Bornali delivered on ‘Risk and protective factors of suicide prevention’ and ‘Psychological first aid training for youth’. In her presentation she showed videos related to suicide survivors, activities like balloon burst, role play done from stories of real life situations and related to suicide risk; these generated interesting discussion and insights. Delegates were taught to administer SADPERSONS suicide assessment scale and few key questions to assess the intent. Oxford Happiness questionnaire was distributed and assessed towards the end of the sessions. Delegates reported they were enriched to gain knowledge on their happiness index. Faculties and delegates of the university have applauded on her deliberation.

Recent statistics say that there is a rise of youth suicide attempt and suicidal behaviour in the state of Arunachal Pradesh along with substance abuse. The university is planning to open “Centre for Youth Development” under Department of Social Work. Psychological counselling and community support services will be undertaken.

The workshop was attended by 70 delegates from across departments like Economics, Mathematics, Sociology, Education, Commerce, Physical Education apart from Department of Social Work students. Dr Tame Kena, Psychiatrist, RK Mission Hospital, Itanagar spoke on ‘Role of depression in suicide’. Ms Buli Daimari, Department of Psychiatric Social Work, LGB Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur, Assam energised the delegates with activities focusing on ‘Lifestyle and stress’.  Dr Apurba Saha, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, Tezpur Central University delivered on ‘Identifying emotions and stress and prevention of suicide’. The session of Mrs Angshu Lama, Lecturer cum Vice Principal, School of Nursing, Down Town Hospital, Guwahati was on ‘Positive metal health perspective and strengthening gatekeepers of suicide prevention’.

Source

“It is not the woman who is the problem;

it is not you who is the problem,

it is the domestic violence

that is the problem,”

stated by Dr. Mythili Hazarika, President of the Society for Mental Health in LAMIC (SoMHiL) in today’s (12/04/17) training course on “Gender Sensitisation” sponsored by Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), Government of India at Assam Administrative Staff College, Khanapara, Guwahati as a resource person. Dr. Hazarika gave an insight on the psychological effects of gender-based violence on women, and issues like role strains, role conflicts, and role ambiguities leading to various emotional and behavioural problems in women were discussed. The interactive session led to clarification of various myths associated with psychiatric illnesses.

Source

Jayanta Dutta of Morigaon Civil Hospital organised the 12th Midterm CME of the Indian Psychiatric Society, Assam State Branch (IPSASB) on 8 April 2017 at Zizina Otis Resort, Mayang, Pabitora, Morigaon in collaboration with the Assam Medical Service Association (AMSA), Morigaon on behalf of IPSASB. C Naveen Kumar and E Aravind Raj from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore were among the resource persons in this CME with the theme of “Disaster mental health: resilience to rehabilitation”.

Uddip Talukdar, Editorial Board Member of the Open Journal of Psychiatry & Allied Sciences (OJPAS^®) spoke on ‘Psychiatric complications in disaster survivors’ in session A. Session B was co-chaired by Bornali Das, Secretary of the Society for Mental Health in LAMIC (SoMHiL) and Editorial Board Member of OJPAS^®. One of the speakers in this session was Mythili Hazarika, President of SoMHiL and Editorial Board Member of OJPAS^® who spoke on ‘Psychosocial intervention in disaster mental health’.

The inaugural issue of Susthamon, a biannual magazine on mental health in vernacular language, i.e. Assamese with Hrishikesh Kalita as Executive Editor is released during the CME. One of the articles is penned down by Shyamanta Das, Editor of OJPAS^®.

Source

Jayanta Dutta of Morigaon Civil Hospital organised the 12th Midterm CME of the Indian Psychiatric Society, Assam State Branch (IPSASB) on 8 April 2017 at Zizina Otis Resort, Mayang, Pabitora, Morigaon in collaboration with the Assam Medical Service Association (AMSA), Morigaon on behalf of IPSASB. C Naveen Kumar and E Aravind Raj from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore were among the resource persons in this CME with the theme of “Disaster mental health: resilience to rehabilitation”.

Uddip Talukdar, Editorial Board Member of the Open Journal of Psychiatry & Allied Sciences (OJPAS^®) spoke on ‘Psychiatric complications in disaster survivors’ in session A. Session B was co-chaired by Bornali Das, Secretary of the Society for Mental Health in LAMIC (SoMHiL) and Editorial Board Member of OJPAS^®. One of the speakers in this session was Mythili Hazarika, President of SoMHiL and Editorial Board Member of OJPAS^® who spoke on ‘Psychosocial intervention in disaster mental health’.

The inaugural issue of Susthamon, a biannual magazine on mental health in vernacular language, i.e. Assamese with Hrishikesh Kalita as Executive Editor is released during the CME. One of the articles is penned down by Shyamanta Das, Editor of OJPAS^®.