RONO HILLS, Oct 10: Aimed at raising awareness about mental health, particularly among young people, and encouraging early recognition of psychological difficulties and timely help-seeking, Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) observed World Mental Health Day 2026 with a sensitization programme themed ‘Invisible Struggles: What We Don’t Talk About’ held here today.
The Department of Psychology, RGU, in collaboration with the ICMR-Arunachal Institute of Tribal Studies (AITS) Project and the All Arunachal Pradesh Psychological Association (AAPPA), organized the programme.
In his address as chief guest, Prof Tame Kena, HoD Psychiatry at Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS), Naharlagun, shared a clinical perspective on mental health, noting the growing willingness to seek professional help in the past few years. He also talked about substance abuse as a common issue among young students and the need to reduce stigma surrounding mental illness.
AAPPA president Dr Tadar Amar highlighted the objectives of World Mental Health Day and emphasized how people often conceal their emotional struggles behind the words, “I am fine,” underscoring the need for open conversations about mental health.
Prof Nani Bath, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences & Head in-charge of the Dept of Psychology (RGU), highlighted the role of family, friends, colleagues, and society in providing emotional support and fostering mental health awareness. He encouraged institutions to have a counsellor to meet students’ emerging mental health needs.
A book titled “A Psychological Exploration of Lived Experiences in Contemporary Tani Families”, authored by Dr Leeyir Ete and Dr Dharmeshwari Lourembam, was released on the occasion.
The first technical session featured a presentation by Dr Leeyir Ete, Project Scientist-II, ICMR-AITS, on “Recognising the Early Signs of Psychological Difficulties and Promoting Timely Help-Seeking Behaviour.” The session highlighted the importance of identifying early signs of psychological distress and seeking appropriate professional support.
Abhishek Rajak, Project Scientist-I, ICMR-AITS, conducted a session on psychological assessment, followed by an intervention-based activity led by Mayuri Handique, Project Scientist-I, ICMR-AITS.
The second technical session involved an interactive session and discussions on healthy life skills and practical approaches to maintaining mental health. The programme concluded with psychological assessment screening booths and one-to-one opportunities to discuss referral and counselling processes, enabling participants to seek information and guidance on available mental health support.
About 62 students attended the programme along with faculty members, researchers, and mental health professionals. The observance highlighted the need to break the silence surrounding psychological difficulties, foster open conversations about mental health and promote a supportive environment in which individuals, particularly young people, feel encouraged to seek help without hesitation.