The National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) under the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Nagaland, in collaboration with NIMHANS, Bengaluru, and LGBRIMH, Tezpur, has concluded a three-day capacity building training programme for the Tele-MANAS Cell, Nagaland.
KOHIMA, AUGUST 14 (MExN): The National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) under the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Nagaland, in collaboration with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, and the Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health (LGBRIMH), Tezpur concluded a three-day capacity building training programme for the Tele-MANAS Cell, Nagaland.
The programme was held from August 11 to 13 at the Drug Controller Conference Hall, DH&FW, and the State Mental Health Institute, Kohima (SMHIK).
The inaugural session on August 11 was chaired by Suyimtenla Jamir, Psychologist, TMC, with a welcome address by Dr Chikrozho Kezo, Joint Director, DH&FW and State Programme Officer, NMHP, followed by the felicitation of NIMHANS resource experts. The keynote address and formal inauguration were delivered by Smti S Tainiu, Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Nagaland.
The NIMHANS team, led by Dr Swati Ravindran, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, conducted sessions on counselling techniques, ethical standards, crisis response protocols, and telehealth service delivery. LGBRIMH provided expert guidance via virtual participation, reinforcing quality standards and best practices in mental health telecounselling.
Interactive modules enabled participants to enhance their skills in patient engagement, risk assessment, and follow-up care through technology-enabled platforms. On the concluding day, all participating counsellors underwent a structured assessment at SMHIK. Having met the evaluation criteria, they have taken a key step towards accreditation as telecounsellors, thereby strengthening Nagaland’s mental health workforce with professionals capable of delivering compassionate and accessible tele-mental health services.
Tele-MANAS is a national initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, offering free, 24×7 tele-mental health support through the toll-free helpline 14416 in multiple languages.
