“Hinari Programme set up by WHO together with major publishers, enables low- and middle- income countries to gain access to one of the world’s largest collections of biomedical and health literature.”

The Open Journal of Psychiatry & Allied Sciences (OJPAS^®), formerly Dysphrenia is now in Hinari (http://extranet.who.int/hinari/en/browse_publisher.php?n=100000&all=true&pub=86).

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The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), Guwahati City Branch and Guwahati Psychiatry Club had organised a CME where the parenting and caregivers’ manual in Assamese version: “Asar Beboharor Pora Protipalonoloi… Ek Obhivabokor Haat Puthi”, coauthored by Dr Bornali Das, Senior Lecturer of Psychiatric Social Work, Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) as well as Secretary of the Society for Mental Health in LAMIC (SoMHiL) along with Prof Dipesh Bhagabati, Former HOD, Department of Psychiatry, GMCH was inaugurated that focused on parents’ communication styles and discipline issues.

The manual was launched by Prof HR Phookun, HOD, Department of Psychiatry, GMCH. IPCA Laboratories Ltd has supported and cosponsored for the manual as well as for the event. Many senior paediatricians congratulated and expressed gratitude to select the platform to launch and expressed the need to join hands in treating autism and ADHD. It was requested that copies of the parenting and caregivers’ manual are made available in their clinics.

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Unaiza Niaz, MD, DPM, FRCPsych joins the Editorial Board of the Open Journal of Psychiatry & Allied Sciences (OJPAS^®). Prof Niaz is a Consultant Psychiatrist & Psychotherapist.

She is Honorary Member of The World Psychiatric Association (WPA) as well as Arab Federation of Psychiatrists. She is also Advisory Council Member, Section on Women’s Mental Health, WPA; Distinguish International Member, American Psychiatric Association; Advisory Board Member, International Association of Women’s Mental Health; and Vice President, Eastern Mediterranean Region, & Board Member, World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH).

“The Pakistan Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (PSTSS) was founded in December 2005, following the Pakistan Earthquake. Soon a virtual Institute of Psycho Trauma Pakistan (IPTP) was formed as a project of PSTSS .The idea was for the professionals to share information about the effects of trauma, both locally & internationally. IPTP, is dedicated to the discovery and dissemination of knowledge about psycho trauma and service initiatives that seek to reduce traumatic stressors and their immediate and long-term consequences.” Prof Niaz is the President of PSTSS (http://psychotrauma.pk) and one of the trustees of PANAH (http://www.panahshelter.org/) that “provides shelter and solace to women who are victims of domestic and societal injustices and empowers them to take the path of soico- economic independence”.

She authored the Guest Editorial, titled “Women and mental health”.

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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’.

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“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.

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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^®.

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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^®.

‘World Health Day 2017 in Guwahati, Assam’ Event

It was a cold and windy Friday morning in Guwahati. The Organising Team gathered at NEDFi House, the venue. The delegates started pouring in. Registration number crossed 170. Dr Bornali Das, Psychiatric Social Worker from the Department of Psychiatry, Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH), Guwahati and Secretary of Society for Mental Health in LAMIC (SoMHiL) started the proceedings with recitation of a caption that won the first prize among adults:

Tired of trying

Tired of hoping

Tired of coping

Tired of existing

Tired of breathing

Tired of living

“I am done”

Organising Chairperson Prof Hemendra Ram Phookun, Professor and Head of the Department (HoD), Department of Psychiatry, GMCH welcomed the delegates and invited Prof Atindra Kumar Adhikari, Principal-cum-Chief Superintendent, GMCH and Dr Debashish Roy, Regional Team Leader, East, World Health Organization – India (NPSP) to the dais. There was lighting of the lamp.

Distinguished dignitaries were felicitated with assists from Gitali Kakati (Editorial Assistant, Open Journal of Psychiatry & Allied Sciences [OJPAS]) as well as Arundhati Bhagawati, Jyotismita Choudhury, and Manisha Bora from the Department of Psychiatry, GMCH.

Prof Adhikari delivered the keynote address, followed by World Health Day (WHD) theme presentation by Dr Roy.

Next was a skit on depression by Aawaz Foundation from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Guwahati and the performers were Devdarshan Chetia, Anuraag Khaund, Priyam Bhardwaj, Sagarika Pathak, Mandit Bhuyan, Anamriya Baruah, Annesha Goswami, Medha Kaushik, and Gaurav Barthakur.

Former HoD, Department of Psychiatry, GMCH Prof Dipesh Bhagabati delivered his lecture on “Depression: relevance and way forward in the state of Assam and North East Region of India” followed by the narration of his suffering from depression by Biswajyoti Das.

Dr Mythili Hazarika, Clinical Psychologist, Department of Psychiatry, GMCH and President of SoMHIL played a video on depression in vernacular language, i.e. Assamese. Thereafter an interactive session with audience was started. Prompt participation was rewarded with chocolates instantaneously. Happiness questionnaire was also presented and explained.

Prof Seema Rekha Devi, Professor and HoD, Department of Plastic Surgery, GMCH presented on depression from the perspectives of individuals after burn injury. It was followed by Rocky Srivastava’s speech on his experience following a burn injury who has successfully recovered from depression.

Prof Phookun moderated the Panel Discussion participated by Manisha Hazarika, Dr Srutimala Duara, PJ Baruah, Dr Debajit Nath, and Neelotpal Deka representing personalities from music, academics, literature, media, police, and law. It was followed by a lively participation from the audience.

Prize distribution of the build-up events followed. The judges were Dr Ahalya Raguram (Professor and Former HoD of Clinical Psychology, NIMHANS, Bangalore) and Varsha Avadhany (Organisational Development Consultant, Bangalore). Children’s caption competition was won by Dyuksha Hazarika from Royal Global School, Guwahati, Rinkie Bora from Shrimanta Shankar Academy, Guwahati, and Nimisha Patra from Royal Global School. Adults’ caption competition was won by Ricky Khuraijam, Sarangthem Bijeeta, and Lalnunmawie; all of them were from Arya Nursing College, Guwahati. The award for poster went to Nilakshi Kalita of Cotton College State University, Guwahati.

Renowned litterateur and poet Janardan Goswami recited a poem of his depicting the suffering of an individual going through depression.

Organising Secretary Dr Shyamanta Das, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, GMCH and Editor, OJPAS offered the vote of thanks on behalf of the Organising Team: the World Health Organization (WHO) represented by Dr Roy, Dr Subhajit Bhattacharjee (North East Sub-Regional Team Lead [Assam & 6 Sister States], WHO India -NPSP, Guwahati), and Dr Arup Kumar Deka (State Surveillance Medical Officer, Assam, WHO India – NPSP-Unit, Guwahati) and the Department of Psychiatry, GMCH.

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Dr Rajeev Kumar Sharma, Addl Director of Health Services (G), Assam cum State Programme Officer, National Mental Health Programme, Assam requested Prof Hemendra Ram Phookun, Professor and Head of the Department, Department of Psychiatry, Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH), Guwahati to conduct training of different categories of staff working under District Mental Health Programme (DMHP). The Department agreed and thus, under the stewardships of Prof Phookun and Dr Ramen Talukdar, Superintendent, GMCH, a team of faculties of the Department consisting of Dr Shyamanta Das (Editor of the Open Journal of Psychiatry & Allied Sciences [OJPAS®]), Dr Bornali Das (Secretary of the Society for Mental Health in LAMIC [SoMHiL]), Dr Simanta Talukdar, Dr Mythili Hazarika (President of the Society for Mental Health in LAMIC [SoMHiL]), and Dr Utpal Bora took the responsibility for the event with assist from office staff Dhanti Borah.

The following 12 districts of Assam were approached where currently DMHP is going on: Dhubri, Goalpara, Baksa, Nalbari, Darrang, Morigaon, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, Karimganj, Majuli, Tinsukia, and Dhemaji. Sixteen doctors working as Medical Officers as well as ten psychologists and social workers from the above mentioned districts turned up. They include: Dr Bhaskar Singha, Dr Probin Kr Nath, Dr Dhrubajyoti Deka, Dr Kaushik Kr Doloi, Dr Pabitra Mahilary, Dr Basob Jyoti Hazarika, Dr Nazrul Islam, Dr Aparajita Pator, Dr Lakshi Kanta Teron, Dr Rahul Nath, Dr Devraj Deori, Dr Amit Kumar Deka, Dr Abinash Talukdar, Dr Kiran Borah, Dr Guljar Hussain, Dr Sandip Roy, Pranjal Rajkhowa, Hinse Boru, Gitamoni Borah, Nirupama Chetia, Momi Devi, Snigdha Pathak, Susmita Sarkar, Prodip Timung, Puspa Kalita, and Lakhyajyoti Das.

Maslow’s basic needs were taken care of in the forms of gut satisfying food and accommodation in comfort. Thereafter resumed the brainstorming sessions of five days from 27 to 31 March 2017 having 15-class a day from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. The nature of training was in the forms of both induction and refresher training with the expected outcome of capacity enhancement to implement the activities of DMHP as per national guidelines.

Apart from the above mentioned faculties of the organising team, the resource persons also included other faculties of the Department: Dr Deepanjali Medhi, Dr Bobby Hmar, Dr Amal Chandra Baishya, and Hemanta Sharma. Dr Lakshya Basumatary from Department of Neurology, GMCH and Chandranshu Chaturvedy, Research Officer, Judicial Academy, Assam added shine to the glitterati of resource persons. While Basumatary talked on ‘epilepsy’, Chaturvedy deliberated on the ‘legal aspects in psychiatry’.

The faculties of the Department covered all the relevant topics related to mental health: aetiology of mental illness, classification of symptomatology, case history taking, case presentation, neurosis, anxiety disorders, generalized anxiety disorder, panic and phobia, conversion disorder/ somatisation, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, mania, schizophrenia, dementia, organic psychosis, delusional disorder, psychotic disorders, mental retardation,  externalising disorders, internalising disorder, geriatric psychiatry, suicide and prevention, acute psychiatric emergency, alcohol and substance abuse disorder, counselling and psychotherapy, casework and group therapy, group therapy in community, microskills of counselling and practice, family therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, community based rehabilitation, stress management, psychometry, life skills education, motivational interview, psychodiagnostic and testing, advocacy and networking, parent management in childhood, ethics in counselling, integration of mental health, community mental health, research in mental health.

There was an exposure visit on 30 March 2017 to Astitva, the multispeciality clinic for holistic management where the founder Kakoli Nath, Audiologist and Speech Pathologist gave the participants orientation. Pre- and post-assessments were done along with feedback as well as certificates for participation were distributed among the participants by the faculties of the Department.

Dr Rajeev Kumar Sharma, Addl Director of Health Services (G), Assam cum State Programme Officer, National Mental Health Programme, Assam requested Prof Hemendra Ram Phookun, Professor and Head of the Department, Department of Psychiatry, Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH), Guwahati to conduct training of different categories of staff working under District Mental Health Programme (DMHP). The Department agreed and thus, under the stewardships of Prof Phookun and Dr Ramen Talukdar, Superintendent, GMCH, a team of faculties of the Department consisting of Dr Shyamanta Das (Editor of the Open Journal of Psychiatry & Allied Sciences [OJPAS®]), Dr Bornali Das (Secretary of the Society for Mental Health in LAMIC [SoMHiL]), Dr Simanta Talukdar, Dr Mythili Hazarika (President of the Society for Mental Health in LAMIC [SoMHiL]), and Dr Utpal Bora took the responsibility for the event with assist from office staff Dhanti Borah.

The following 12 districts of Assam were approached where currently DMHP is going on: Dhubri, Goalpara, Baksa, Nalbari, Darrang, Morigaon, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, Karimganj, Majuli, Tinsukia, and Dhemaji. Sixteen doctors working as Medical Officers as well as ten psychologists and social workers from the above mentioned districts turned up. They include: Dr Bhaskar Singha, Dr Probin Kr Nath, Dr Dhrubajyoti Deka, Dr Kaushik Kr Doloi, Dr Pabitra Mahilary, Dr Basob Jyoti Hazarika, Dr Nazrul Islam, Dr Aparajita Pator, Dr Lakshi Kanta Teron, Dr Rahul Nath, Dr Devraj Deori, Dr Amit Kumar Deka, Dr Abinash Talukdar, Dr Kiran Borah, Dr Guljar Hussain, Dr Sandip Roy, Pranjal Rajkhowa, Hinse Boru, Gitamoni Borah, Nirupama Chetia, Momi Devi, Snigdha Pathak, Susmita Sarkar, Prodip Timung, Puspa Kalita, and Lakhyajyoti Das.

Maslow’s basic needs were taken care of in the forms of gut satisfying food and accommodation in comfort. Thereafter resumed the brainstorming sessions of five days from 27 to 31 March 2017 having 15-class a day from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. The nature of training was in the forms of both induction and refresher training with the expected outcome of capacity enhancement to implement the activities of DMHP as per national guidelines.

Apart from the above mentioned faculties of the organising team, the resource persons also included other faculties of the Department: Dr Deepanjali Medhi, Dr Bobby Hmar, Dr Amal Chandra Baishya, and Hemanta Sharma. Dr Lakshya Basumatary from Department of Neurology, GMCH and Chandranshu Chaturvedy, Research Officer, Judicial Academy, Assam added shine to the glitterati of resource persons. While Basumatary talked on ‘epilepsy’, Chaturvedy deliberated on the ‘legal aspects in psychiatry’.

The faculties of the Department covered all the relevant topics related to mental health: aetiology of mental illness, classification of symptomatology, case history taking, case presentation, neurosis, anxiety disorders, generalized anxiety disorder, panic and phobia, conversion disorder/ somatisation, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, mania, schizophrenia, dementia, organic psychosis, delusional disorder, psychotic disorders, mental retardation,  externalising disorders, internalising disorder, geriatric psychiatry, suicide and prevention, acute psychiatric emergency, alcohol and substance abuse disorder, counselling and psychotherapy, casework and group therapy, group therapy in community, microskills of counselling and practice, family therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, community based rehabilitation, stress management, psychometry, life skills education, motivational interview, psychodiagnostic and testing, advocacy and networking, parent management in childhood, ethics in counselling, integration of mental health, community mental health, research in mental health.

There was an exposure visit on 30 March 2017 to Astitva, the multispeciality clinic for holistic management where the founder Kakoli Nath, Audiologist and Speech Pathologist gave the participants orientation. Pre- and post-assessments were done along with feedback as well as certificates for participation were distributed among the participants by the faculties of the Department.

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