World Mental Health Day was observed in Tuensang on Tuesday on the theme “Mental Health is a Universal Human Right” at Sangtam Baptist Lithro Tuensang (SBLT) Conference Hall. The program was organised by District Hospital Tuensang in collaboration with Tuensang District Legal Services Authority.

Special Guest Thungchanbemo Tungoe, ADC Tuensang, in his address spoke on the stigma and discrimination that continues to exist in our society and needs to be curbed at the earliest. The need is for more awareness in terms of mental health, he stressed while pressing the Church to play a bigger role in combating mental illnesses. Tungoe also highlighted the importance of love and care for people with mental illness.

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Dr Senilo Magh, Psychiatrist, elucidated on the definitions of health and mental health. He stressed on how we see, feel and interpret the world through our minds and the importance of being mentally healthy. Highlighting on the prevalence of mental illnesses in the world, Dr Magh mentioned that one out of four individuals suffer from one or the other mental illnesses during their lifetime. He also stated that unipolar major depression is projected to become the number one disease causing maximum burden to one’s quality of life.

Further, Dr Magh highlighted the different types of mental illnesses with substance use problem being huge to the country and the State in particular. He also expounded on the signs and symptoms of common mental disorders like depression, anxiety, panic, hyperventilation syndrome, conversion disorder, substance and psychotic disorder.

Dr Magh urged all the people to seek counselling, stating that it is sufficient for neurotic disease of mild to moderate severity. He also stressed that counselling and medication should go hand in hand.

Moreover, he informed that early detection and treatment is the key to finding cure from mental illnesses and urged those in need to dial District Hospital counselling helpline number -7085383796 which is live on all working days from 9:00 am-1:00 pm and till noon on working Saturdays.

As part of the event, 201 students from various schools took part in painting competition under the theme “Mental Health is a Universal Right” where Pushei K Khiamniungan from Government Higher Secondary School Tuensang won the First Prize, Usa Lomou from Trinity Academy School Tuensang, came Second while Wathong from Holy Cross School Saksi (NAP) was adjudged Third. The prizes were distributed to the winners by Beigu, psychiatric social worker.