World Mental Health Day observed in Lakhimpur

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: World Mental Health Day was observed in Lakhimpur by the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) team on Saturday with a view to spread mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma.

On this occasion, a special programme in a befitting manner was organized at the conference hall of the office of the Joint Director of District Health Services (DHS), Lakhimpur. The agenda of the whole programme of the event began with the distribution of awareness badges among the people of various walks of life by the DHS and DMHP team members. Then an awareness rally was taken out in North Lakhimpur town with the participation of Additional Deputy Commissioner (Health), Joint Director of the DHS, DMHP team members, ASHA workers and the members of various non-governmental organizations.

The awareness rally was flagged of by District Development Commissioner-cum in-charge Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar Baruah. A street play in order to create awareness on different aspects of mental health was staged in front of the District Library by the members of Smriti Nyas, an NGO, while a puppet show was staged at the DHS office.

District Mental Health Officer Dr. Samiul Akhtar Borborah explained the significance of the event in the meeting. He also delivered an analytical speech on this year's theme of the event, that is, 'Mental Health for All: Greater Investment, Greater Access'. In connection, he highlighted the effects of the narcotic substances on mental health and laid stress on adapting the due measures to avoid the consumption of narcotic substances.

Internationally acclaimed innovator Padma Shri Dr. Uddhab Bharali took part in the programme as chief guest. In his lecture, Dr Bharali remarked that corruption, rape and other social stigma were the outcome of ill mental health. In this connection he emphasized strengthening the mental health for the betterment of individual life as well as the society.

Subdivisional Medical Officer (Headquarter) Dr. Hemanta Kumar Dutta also spoke on the theme of the event attending the programme wherein Joint Director Dr Mahendra Das, District Programme Manager of NHM, Debanga Bikash Gogoi, DME Durlabh Batman and other guests were present. In the same programme, prizes were distributed among the winners of the essay competition which was organized on October 1 on the same occasion.

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