BIKASH CHETTRI, Namchi 21 Mar:
The Health and Family Welfare Department Sikkim Inspires, under the aegis of DAC Namchi, and in collaboration with Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy Pune, completed their two days district level multistakeholder consultation on ‘Community Mental Health Program’ on 20 Mar, 2025.
On the second day of the Program, the participants from different societal communities of Namchi district took part in discussions, and key reflections on the Program. Similarly, the participants also exercised on ‘stakeholder mapping’, of mental ailments – causes, solution, and implementation of programmes.
Retired Employees Welfare Association Namchi, Namchi Bazaar Committee, Asha workers and anganwadi workers, Student representatives of SGC Namchi, RRC Sikkim Alpine University, representatives from visually impaired community, Rainbow Hills Welfare, Sanjeevani Rehabilitation Centre, Recovery Users Network, and influencers participate in today’s Program.
During the event, some renowned individuals, and dignitaries shared their personal experiences in mental health. Deputy Speaker SLA, Rajkumari Thapa, shares measures she took in surviving mental stress. Similarly, AD, Sikkim Inspires, Roshnila Gurung, shared her personal experience in coping and winning the depth of mental illness, it’s presence and effects. And singer Prashanti Pradhan, shares her story behind writing her original – ‘Sahashi’.
However, two youths in Namchi today have shared their survival from suicide, and substance use, and shared the copies of new advanced approach of ‘anonymous suicide’, and insights on Recovery Users Network.
Today’s event is a start for creating policies and laws for the social darkness of suicide, depression, anxiety and stress in Sikkim. And this joint initiative has welcomed suggestions from local communities of Namchi, to meet a grounded report. The final report for mental health from Namchi District will be submitted by the experts from CMH, Pune, to the Government of Sikkim, by next month.
DC Namchi, Anupa Tamling, have commented, that the results may take sometime to come into effect. However, she, alongwith AD Sikkim Inspires, Roshnila Gurung, have pointed out that the people should be more vocal. Till then, people from all over Sikkim are expected to share their survival stories, in dedication to bring out another person from this darkness.
