KOCHI:
Parents and teachers have key roles in nurturing the mental health of children and the mental health habits should begin from home, said district collector Muhammad Y Safeerulla on inaugurating the world mental health day observation at General Hospital, Ernakulum.
World mental health day observation was organized by the Health Department, Indian Medical Association (IMA) Kochi branch, General Hospital, Ernakulum and District Mental Health Program (DMHP). Dr. N. K Kuttappan, district medical officer, who presided over the meeting said, “A healthy atmosphere at home, work place, school and anywhere we are in can help us to maintain good mental health.” Dr. Pyari Joseph, nodal officer, DMHP, lead awareness class on this year’s worlds mental health day message, ‘Young people and Mental Health in a Changing world’.
Volunteers who helped DMHP for giving first aid to the mentally affected people during the flood were honoured and winners of the quiz and poster designing competitions conducted in connection with the mental health day observation were given prizes at the occasion. Various awareness programs like skit, flash mob and poster exhibition were carried out by the nursing students as part of mental health day awareness. Dr. A. Anitha, superintend, GH, Dr. Asha Jose, deputy superintend, Dr. Junaid Rahman, president IMA, Dr. Vidhya K.R, deputy district medical officer, Dr. Haneesh Meerasa, secretary, IMA, film artists Krishnaprabha, Kevin Jose and Dhanesh also attended the program.