The Carl Rogers Institute of Mental Health and School Counselling (CRIMHSC) was inaugurated today by T Sekhose, Former Director SCERT.
The event took place at the CRIMHSC building located opposite Don Bosco College, Kohima.
Higher Education Minister Temjen Imna Along, who was the guest of honour, addressed the inauguration virtually.
Along said CRIMHSC is a very important institute which will determine the lives of many people in the state and if it functions well, it will be an institute that will mould and build the state in number of ways.
Stating that the fast pace world of the 21st century brings about stress and a lifestyle different from the olden days, Along said young people are in need of professional counselling, mentorship and guidance. The institute will thus play a pivotal role in nurturing mental health and making people ready to face the various challenges of life with positivity and strength, the minister said.
T Sekhose, in his short address, pointed out that children are facing unprecedented challenges – the expectations of parents, peer pressure, influence of social media – which have all been brought together to expose the children. He stressed on the need to address these issues.
The former SCERT director said, besides government agencies, private players are much warranted and needed today because it is important that all teachers are exposed to the requirements of how a child should be attended to mentally. Such kinds of institutions will cater not just to the students but to the teachers, parents and also the church, he added.
“We require that first and foremost we need to have a compassion for our students. My request and advice would be even as the management formulate your curriculum and techniques and counselling methods it is so important that everything is tampered with love, empathy and compassion,” said Sekhose.
Special number by students of the Psychology Department, Don Bosco College Kohima.
CRIMHSC has been founded with the primary objective and goal to promote mental health and school counselling with non-directive approach to counselling as propounded by Carl Rogers.
The Institute will provide training on specific skills in psychotherapy, methods and techniques of counselling and activities related to mental health for teachers, students and parents.
The Institute will also hold programmes such as group therapy, individual therapy, career talk, career conference, family and marriage therapy, couple therapy, child counselling, holistic counselling and addiction counselling.
Earlier, the welcome address was delivered by Kezhazolie Cornelius Mere, Vice Chairman, CRIMHSC while the keynote speech was given by Dr Zavise Rume, Chairman, CRIMHSC and the exhortation by Neivor Rutsa, Ex VCC, Kohima Village.
A special number was also presented by students of the Psychology Department, Don Bosco College Kohima.
