GDC Kargil in collaboration with Health Department celebrates World Mental Health Day.

GDC Kargil in collaboration with Health Department celebrates World Mental Health Day.
Kargil, Oct 10, 2024: Department of Psychology, Government Degree College Kargil today celebrated World Mental Health Day in collaboration with Health Department Kargil in the college’s Seminar Hall under the theme “Mental Health at Workplace”.
Health Department Kargil extended their collaboration under National Mental Health Program (NMHP). The program was organized under the able guidance of Prof. Disket Angmo, Principal GDC Kargil. While, Chemit Yurgyal (Sub-Judge/Secretary DLSA Kargil), Dr. Mohammad Abass (Dy. CMO Kargil), Dr. Jalil and Dr. Mutaza from Health Department Kargil attended the event to share their expertise on the topic.
Mohammad Mustafa, Faculty Member, welcomed all the guests and audience on behalf of the host department followed by a brief introduction of the program by Samana Banoo, a Student 5th Semester.
Dr. Murtaza Ali, Consultant Psychiatrist, District Hospital Kargil shared his expertise through a detailed PowerPoint regarding impacts of poor-mental well-being at workplace.
He said the number of working days are lost because of absenteeism due to poor mental health and emphasized to look at psycho-social factors at the workplace. He suggested that shift workers should be assigned work according to the needs of workers keeping their mental wellbeing into consideration.
Homework balance also acts as one of the factors, Dr. Murtaza added. He said mental health audits may be beneficial for assessing the mental health status of the workers.
He suggested various employee level interventions apart from ensuring a non-intimidating and friendly environment on part of the organization at workplace as organisational level interventions. He presented a detailed figure of various kinds of psychiatric disorders in Kargil.
Dr. Suhana, Faculty Member Psychology gave a detailed presentation on Workplace Mental Wellbeing on the basis of the already shared questionnaire among the college employees through Google form and the responses collected subsequently.
All the answers displayed on the PPT screen during the presentation in the form of pie-charts. She informed that 5% of the college employees have severe stress levels which need to be addressed accordingly. Dr. Suhana briefly addressed the reasons behind workplace stress and the measures to improve mental health of employees during her presentation.
Niharika, Yoga Skill Instructor, GDC Kargil conducted a short Yoga activity on the stage with two of her students and displayed Gyan Mudra activity to have self-awareness and feel the intensity of stress level followed by different activities of Neck rotation, shoulder rotation as a remedial for stress management.
The guest of honour Chemit Yurgyal (Secretary DLSA/Sub-Judge) discussed the legal aspects of mental health and enlightened the audience that mental health is considered as one of the human rights under Mental Health Care Act.
He said every citizen has the right to have a personal liberty. In case of mental illness the right to have personal liberty sometimes may get curtailed. Thus the Government of India has come up with Mental Health Care Act 2017 in order to address the mental health care of the citizens.
The fifth chapter discusses ensuring the right to access mental health care run and funded by the government. Such services need to be provided without any discrimination to all who suffer from mental illness.
It becomes an obligation on the state to ensure availability of adequate drugs for curing such patients as per law. Right to protection from inhuman and degrading treatment is another right guaranteed under this Act.
Right to Information is also incorporated with this Act for effective implementation of the Act. Confidentiality of the patient is also ensured under this Act.
No photographs may be published without the consent of the person in any format is also included as a matter of right under this Act. The deficiencies in services may also be reported and complained under this Act to the State Mental Health Authority. Yurgyal’s talk proved to be beneficial for the students regarding the legal aspects of mental health care.
Principal GDC Kargil, Prof. Disket Angmo in her address emphasized the significance of mental health in human life. She said mental health is a concern for everyone. In her address she said mental health is a major challenge in global development.
She said such issues disproportionately affect the poor, the children, women and adivasis. So it must be regarded with the same urgency as physical health.
She said we must commit to do better on this World Mental Health Day. In her message, she asked those who are suffering are not alone. She urged that all have a role to play in terms of educating and creating awareness people regarding mental health issues.
Dr. Mohammad Abass, Incharge CMO Kargil, who was chief guest of the event, discussed the deep connection between physical illness and psychological impacts of mental illness. He urged the students to be careful of excessive use of screens which sometimes negatively affect mental illness.
Dr. Abass mentioned the different levels of stress faced by working professionals and the role that could be played by the Psychology Department of GDC Kargil in collaboration with the Mental Health section of the Health Department.
He appealed to the audience to take care of their surroundings regarding the possible increase of drug abuse due to psychological illness in the future.
Dr. Jalil, the special guest of the occasion highlighted the importance of mental health awareness at school level as students thus become ambassadors to spread the message among the society. He advised the students to sincerely follow the teachings of their respective faith for ensuring a healthy society.
On this occasion, green ribbons were distributed among all participants to display on the lapels along with informative pamphlets as symbolic manifestations of World Mental Health Day.
The volunteers of National Services Scheme (NSS), GDC Kargil led by Prof. Tsewang Gyalson (Convenor NSS) launched a new edition of NSS Magazine on this occasion. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Tauheed, a 3rd Semester student who also moderated the event.