ACTS Connect launched its awareness campaign, ‘Breaking the Silence 4.0’, focusing on mental health and substance abuse, in Kohima on November 3. The initiative was jointly organised by the Department of Social Welfare, Government of Nagaland, Assam Rifles, Recovery Wellness Society and Mount Olive College, Kohima.
Major General HA Mavi, IGAR (North), attended the programme as the Guest of Honour, while Wango Langsym, Deputy Director and State Nodal Officer, Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), Department of Social Welfare, was the Special Guest. The programme was hosted by Mount Olive College, Kohima.
Addressing the gathering, Major General Mavi called upon people to speak out whenever they felt something was wrong and extend a helping hand to those going through difficult situations. He stressed the importance of mutual trust and encouraged everyone to have the courage to break the silence and overcome addiction.
Special Guest Wango Langsym urged young people to dream big and cautioned them against allowing substance abuse to undermine their aspirations and future.
The programme also featured short addresses by T Bahun Nongrum, Miss Divine Beauty India 2026, Miss Earth India 2025 1st Runner-up and Miss Meghalaya 2024, and Lovikali Swu, Miss Grand India Nagaland 2026. ZT Slingshot, rapper and songwriter from Nagaland, also presented a musical performance titled “Voice Beyond Silence”.
The keynote address was delivered by Bendang Imsong, Director of ACTS Connect, who highlighted how mental health challenges and substance abuse had long remained concealed behind fear, shame and social stigma. He observed that individuals often suffered in silence, families struggled without support, and young people were reluctant to seek help for fear of being judged, labelled or misunderstood.
He said the ‘Breaking the Silence’ campaign was launched in 2023 with the aim of turning silence into open dialogue, challenging the stigma surrounding mental health and substance abuse, promoting empathy and encouraging young people to seek assistance without fear.
Explaining the need for the initiative, Imsong noted that substance abuse and mental health concerns affected not only individuals but also families, educational institutions, workplaces and communities. He stressed that silence could further aggravate problems, while open conversations could create opportunities for support and healing.
The campaign carries the message, “It is okay not to be okay. It is not okay to suffer alone,” emphasising that acknowledging a problem is the first step towards receiving support, treatment and recovery.
Highlighting the campaign’s progress, Imsong said that during 2023 and 2024, the initiative brought together community organisations, government departments, educational institutions, Assam Rifles, health professionals and youth ambassadors across Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Nagaland.
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The campaign worked towards increasing awareness of mental health and substance abuse, addressing myths and misinformation, challenging social stigma, encouraging young people to speak openly and seek timely assistance, and creating supportive environments within families, campuses and communities. It also sought to complement the objectives of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan and its vision of a drug-free India.
He further acknowledged the contribution of youth ambassadors and community leaders in taking the campaign’s message beyond public gatherings and into everyday conversations. He observed that leadership was not necessarily about having all the answers but about creating opportunities for others to be heard.
Reflecting on the campaign’s journey, Imsong stressed that awareness must translate into meaningful action. He said lasting change depended on everyday gestures of understanding and support, including parents listening without judgement, teachers recognising students facing difficulties, friends standing by one another and young people feeling comfortable seeking professional help.
He emphasised that recovery required compassion rather than criticism, prevention was stronger than punishment, and addressing mental health and substance abuse required collective efforts from institutions, government departments and organisations.
Looking ahead, he called for ‘Breaking the Silence 4.0’ to grow beyond individual events and slogans into a sustained movement reaching homes, classrooms, campuses, neighbourhoods and digital spaces.
The fourth edition has expanded its outreach to four northeastern states — Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Meghalaya. It aims to educate communities on the dangers of substance abuse, improve mental health awareness among young people and the wider community, and reduce the stigma associated with both issues. The campaign also engages regional personalities and youth influencers to strengthen its reach and make its message more relatable.
Delivering the concluding remarks, Ainato Yeptho, Managing Director of ACTS Connect, said the programme had reinforced the message that speaking up was a sign of strength rather than weakness. He encouraged those facing mental health or substance-related challenges to seek help and urged people to stand by their friends, observing that a single caring conversation could save a life.
Emphasising the values represented by ACTS — Aid, Care, Trust and Support — Yeptho urged young people to say no to drugs, particularly the first try. He cautioned that drugs did not take away problems but instead took away one’s future, calling upon the younger generation to become a generation that breaks the silence and begins the process of healing.
On behalf of ACTS Connect Nagaland, he expressed gratitude to the Inspector General Assam Rifles (North), 13th Assam Rifles, Department of Social Welfare, Government of Nagaland, Recovery Wellness Society Assam, Mount Olive College, youth icons Bahun, Lovikali and ZT Slingshot, along with students, volunteers, media representatives and faculty members for their support in making the launch successful.
He informed that the campaign would continue its outreach across the Northeast, with the next programme scheduled for November 4 at St. Xavier Higher Secondary School, Jalukie, Peren, followed by Jorhat, Assam, on November 11, Tezpur on November 12, and the grand finale at North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, on November 14.
Reaffirming the campaign’s commitment, Yeptho said the initiative would continue reaching campuses and districts with a consistent message that no one should have to face their struggles alone.
