The office of the District Mental Health Programme under the office of the South West Khasi Hills District Medical and Health Officer conducted a street play on mental health awareness and adolescents at Mawkyrwat market.
The objective of the street play was to generate awareness on the importance of mental health, to reduce its stigma and to enable all individuals to openly experience and communicate their mental health concern especially the adolescence, as it is the crucial period for developing social and emotional habits important for mental well-being.
The street play was performed by the PHL Group from Mawkyrwat on the causes of mental health issues and illness. They stressed on how the parents should understand their children especially during the adolescence stage as this is a unique and formative time.
Physical, emotional and social changes including exposure to poverty, abuse, or violence can make adolescents vulnerable to mental health problems. The misunderstanding or conflict of the parents can create mental disturbance to the child growth and development. The play emphasises on how parents should be concerned about mental well being of their children.
The resource persons A. Lyngkhoi, Clinical Psychologist explained about the symptoms of mental illness and W. Lyngkhoi, Adolescence Counsellor spoke on the existence and functioning of the Adolescence Health Clinic.
