Panaji: World Mental Health Day is observed on Thursday, October 10, 2024. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Goa is empowering parents, teachers, and students through the “Be Kind to Your Mind” campaign.
In line with this year’s theme, “Be Kind to Your Mind,” IMA Goa, in collaboration with Sangath Goa, the Directorate of Education (DoE), the Directorate of Health Services (DHS), and the Goa Education Development Corporation (GEDC), has launched a series of initiatives throughout 2024 aimed at promoting mental well-being across the state.
Initiatives such as “Paalak-Mitra: Fostering Parent-Child Relationships” and “Manas-Mentors: Training of Trainers” focus on empowering and training teachers, school counselors, and parents with the skills needed to support students in managing stress, building healthy family dynamics, and fostering a culture of mental health awareness in schools.
The latest step in this campaign was the launch of information, education, and communication (IEC) materials in the form of posters on stress management and parenting skills. These materials were officially unveiled recently at the prestigious GIMACON 2024 medical conference on October 5, at the hands of the Honourable Chief Minister of Goa, Shri Dr. Pramod Sawant.
During the launch, the Honourable Chief Minister highlighted the significance of these resources, stating that the government has established a dedicated mechanism to address mental health issues in children by appointing dedicated counselors through GEDC in all schools across Goa. Dr. Sawant also mentioned that his organization, SAI Lifecare, along with Sangath Goa, has initiated counseling clinics in the state and expressed happiness that, with government and private support, such initiatives are benefiting the general public of Goa.
The specially designed IEC posters on stress management and parenting skills have already been distributed to around 250 schools across the state.
Important aspects of the mental health campaign include the training program for teachers and school counselors under the banners of “Paalak-Mitra” and “Manas-Mentors: ToT,” aimed at equipping them with practical tools to guide parents in fostering healthy relationships with their children and managing their own stress.
IMA Goa’s “Be Kind to Your Mind” campaign has made significant strides in promoting mental health awareness, providing essential resources, and creating a network of support across Goa. Moving forward, IMA Goa will continue to expand its outreach efforts, with plans to further strengthen mental health education and care in the state.
