DHARAMSHALA: The Department of Health of the Central Tibetan Administration conducted the second mental health workshop at Vidya Sagar Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (VIMHANS) in New Delhi from 19-23 August.

The workshop was organised for the community health workers from different Tibetan settlements in Nepal such as Chailsa, Shaybru, Paljorling, Dorpatan, Boudha and Tashi Pelkheil.

About 18 health staff, including 9 from Nepal, attended the workshop. Other  participants were from Ngoenga School, Tibetan Transit school, Tibet Charity, Upper TCV school, TCV Suja school, Tashijong, Tuting, Tenzingang and Norgyeling (Bhandara) settlements.

The participants were trained in mental health concepts like child and adolescent mental health, post traumatic stress disorders, basic counselling skills, trauma counselling, psychotherapy, addiction and substance abuse prevention. Resource persons include clinical psychologists like Dr. Pallav Bonerjee, Deepali Rao, Chandrashekhar, Rachna Giri and art therapist Ms. Sonia Bhandari from VIMHANS.

This training, which was funded by USAID, aims to upgrade the skills of various health staff in the prevention and clinical management of mental health problems in their respective health centers. The first mental health training was conducted in May this year.