Officials along with the participants during the training programme on “Awareness on Child Mental Health” for government school teachers held at ATI, Kohima on May 22.
Kohima, May 23 (MExN): The Administrative Training Institute (ATI) organised a two-day training programme on “Awareness on Child Mental Health” for government school teachers from Kohima district on May 21 and 22 at ATI, Kohima.
According to an official update, the programme was aimed to equip teachers with essential knowledge, practical skills and intervention strategies to identify, understand and address mental health concerns among school-going children.
The training highlighted the pivotal role of teachers in promoting emotional well-being and facilitating early identification and intervention within educational institutions.
Sessions during the programme covered topics including mental health and common mental disorders, childhood mental health disorders, Psychological First Aid (PFA), core counselling skills for teachers, mental and emotional well-being of teachers, counselling skills practice and application, Child Helpline 1098, vulnerable children, and child mental health issues in Nagaland.
The resource persons included Veronica Nriame, Psychiatric Social Worker, District Mental Health Programme (DMHP), NHAK; Ketuosenou Phewhuo, Clinical Psychologist; and Neingutounuo Kulnu, Helpline Administrator, Child Helpline 1098, WCD Control Room, Nagaland.
The programme provided an interactive platform for participants to enhance their understanding of child mental health challenges and develop supportive and responsive approaches towards students within the school environment.
During an interactive session with participants, ATI Director General and Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture) and Agricultural Production Commissioner, V Shashank Shekhar, IAS, deliberated on the growing mental health concerns among school children and the challenges faced by teachers in addressing such issues effectively.
He also emphasised the importance of integrating modern education with cultural and moral values as an essential approach towards addressing child mental health concerns in society.
Altogether, 36 teachers from 16 government schools in Kohima participated in the training programme.
