‘Mental health a major concern among adolescents’

Dimapur — President of the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), Kegwayhun Tep, has said that mental health is becoming a major concern among adolescents, and encouraged them to talk about their problems with their close friends and family members.

Speaking as a special guest during the morning session of Can Youth’s Adolescent Summer Retreat on the theme ‘Voyage, learning, and growth,’ organised at Green Park, Chümoukedima, on July 29, Tep asked the youngsters to be truthful and honest in whatever endeavour they pursue.

He encouraged them to take proper care of their health in order to prolong their longevity and said that health comes under three categories – physical, mental and spiritual – and urging adolescents to be spiritually strong.

He also said that adolescent clubs are spaces for learning, sharing and growing together.

On the occasion, the founder and chief functionary of Can Youth, Jenpu Rongmei, stressed how the ‘adolescent clubs,’ subsidiaries of Can Youth, were formed in various parts of Dimapur and Chümoukedima during the pandemic.

Stating that adolescents are the hope for the present and the future, Rongmei hoped that through the summer retreat, the members of the clubs would further foster their relationships and learn new things.

“We should have fun, but at the same time we should always have respect and discipline with the values of our lives,” he said.

In the second session, Imnajungla, EAC Dimapur, who was one of the resource persons, talked about good and bad governance. She stated that just as every game has rules, so too does governance, and explained that good governance involves the people and government consulting together for the common good. 

The EAC also highlighted the roles of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches and mentioned that good governance means inclusive decision-making that benefits citizens, while bad governance signifies the absence of good governance.

District coordinator, DWSM, PHED, Imojungla Longkumer, dwelled on the importance of empowering communities on water and sanitation. She emphasised the interrelationship between good sanitation and water and said that empowering the community will have a positive impact on society. 

She also stressed how water and cleanliness are the most essential parts of people’s lives, and having a good impact on water and sanitation is equally responsible for citizens. She encouraged adolescents to practise good water and sanitation habits.

After the second session, a one-act play competition was held on the topics of ‘Good governance and bad governance’ and ‘Empowering the community on water and sanitation.’ The Pearl Adolescents Club from Namgalong Colony won for their play on governance, while the Ganeshnagar Adolescents Club won for their play on water and sanitation.

The retreat also featured various activities and competitions.

The inauguration session of the event was attended by officials from the NSF, Dimapur Naga Students’ Union, Tenyimi Students’ Union Dimapur, Dimapur Eastern Naga Students’ Union, adolescents support groups, MSW interns from NEISSR, and board members and legal advisors of Can Youth.