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KOHIMA — Highlighting the urgent need for mental health support for children in Child Care Institutions (CCIs), a state-level workshop in Kohima stressed the importance of early intervention and a supportive environment. The workshop, titled ‘Counselling Essentials and Mental Health Needs of Children in Child Care Institutions’, brought together stakeholders from across Nagaland, including District Child Protection Officers, Child Welfare Committee and Juvenile Justice Board members, and counsellors from government-funded NGOs, government-run homes, as well as District Child Protection Units.
Inaugurating the workshop, Yongchingkumla, Secretary of the Nagaland State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NSCPCR), stated that “every child who comes in contact with the juvenile justice system is a child in difficult circumstances who have fallen out of the preventive net.”
While the topic of mental health is often considered taboo, she emphasised the need to raise awareness and connect children in need with appropriate guidance. She also pointed out a critical gap in Nagaland’s support system, saying that the state “lacks psychiatrists, psychologists, and special educators.”
She emphasised that a child retains all rights outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act 2015, even while under institutional care. As such, the Act promotes institutionalisation only when absolutely necessary and in the best interest of the child, with the goal of providing counselling, education, and rehabilitation to ensure the child’s successful reintegration into society.
Mental health important to overall health
Aying Wangsha, Member of NSCPCR, stressed the importance of mental well-being for children in CCIs, noting that “mental well-being has become the need of the hour, especially in the present times.”
Highlighting their vulnerability to mental health issues like depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, emotional trauma, and potential for self-harm, she said that children in CCIs “may even feel excluded from the wider culture and traditions.”
It is in such a situation where professional intervention is needed, she said, urging stakeholders to prioritise the safety, security, and emotional well-being of these children in need.
It is only through collective efforts that we will be able to make a difference, she added.
Moajungla, Legal-cum-Probation Officer, Dimapur, spoke on the existing legal provisions for children in CCIs, emphasising counselling as a better method to deal with the children in conflict with the law.
Many children in observation homes are those who are apprehended of drugs abuse and counselling for these children is crucial, as it can help them overcome the feeling of shame, she explained. She also highlighted the importance of “milieu-based psychosocial interventions through creating an enabling environment for children and ensuring individual therapy for them.”
Early identification and intervention
Ongdok Phom, Psychiatric Social Worker from Longleng, highlighted the prevalence of trauma among children entering CCIs, stating that “many children experience trauma prior to sending in children’s homes and it’s important to give extra care.”
Speaking on the topic of indentifying mental health issues in CCIs and the role of counsellors and CCI staff, he stressed the need for early identification and intervention for mental health issues, warning that if left unaddressed, these issues could worsen as children grow older. Towards this, he emphasised the importance of creating awareness programmes.
Meanwhile, Alun Hangsing, Commissioner of NSCPCR, reminded participants of their responsibility towards the well-being of children in CCIs, and urged them to be sensitive to potential mental health concerns.
Urging CCI staff to keep in mind that many of the children may be suffering from one mental health issue or the other, he requested them to try to identify the issues and deal with them accordingly.
Hansing also sought suggestions from the participants that the commission can take up with the government. The government is serious about this commission but initiatives are hindered because of meagre funds, he added.
The workshop was sponsored by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) with logistical support from the Karmayogi Multipurpose Cooperative Society of Guwahati, in collaboration with the NSCPCR.