Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio appealed to the people not to stigmatise mental health.
“Let’s talk about it and not stigmatise it. Let’s create awareness, encourage early intervention & support recovery across the life course,” Rio tweeted on the occasion of the World Mental Health Day on Thursday.
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State Mental Health Institute Kohima and District Mental Health Program Kohima jointly observed the World Mental Health Day at the former’s premises on the theme “Mental Health Promotion & Suicide Prevention”.
Nagaland government will accord priority to mental health, hopes Neikrielie Khimiao
Speaking on the occasion, additional director of the directorate of health & family welfare department, Neikrielie Khimiao said the World Health Organisation began observing the World Mental Health Day with the objective to push the governments around the world to mobilise its various departments to sensitize the issue and work toward ensuring a good mental health of all the people.
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Even as we focus on #FitIndiaMovement, let us also draw attention to #Mentalhealth & talk about it. Today is #WorldMentalHealthDay #LetsTalk about it & not stigmatise it. Let us create awareness, encourage early intervention & support recovery across the life course. @WMHDay
— Neiphiu Rio (@Neiphiu_Rio) October 10, 2019
Khimiao hoped the state government will accord priority to mental health like other projects and give due consideration for the well-being of the mental health of the people.
Speaking on this year’s theme of the day, senior medical officer, State Mental Health Institute Kohima, Dr Viketuolie said while there are many reasons why people commit suicide, early detection of abnormal behaviour is crucial in preventing it.
He also listed mental illness, poverty, unemployment, lack of family support, high level of competition, relationship problem, loss of jobs and financial misfortune as the many causes of suicides.
“It is high time we open a Crisis Intervention Centre where suicidal tendencies can be monitored 24/7,” Viketuolie said.
With the inauguration of District Mental Health Program (DMHP) at Phek on October 9, and together with the existing DMHPs in Dimapur, Kohima, Mokochung and Longleng, Nagaland now has five institutes dedicated to address mental issues.
The WHO estimated that 8 lakh people commit suicide every year around the world which means there is a suicide case in every 40 second.