Tengnoupal, Oct 10: The Centre for Women and Girls (CWG), in collaboration with the Camp Management Committee and 3 Assam Rifles, observed World Mental Health Day 2025 at the ZEO Relief Camp in Tengnoupal District on Friday.
Held under the theme “Access to Service – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies,” the event aimed to raise awareness on the importance of mental well-being, particularly for displaced persons living in relief camps.
Also read | We are not here to compromise Manipur’s integrity, says NPP chief Conrad Sangma
Delivering the keynote address, Hechin Haokip, Executive Director of CWG, underscored the significance of mental health amid crisis and displacement. “The mind is a place too. A home can be destroyed, but mental health requires time, compassion, empathy, kindness, and care,” she said. Haokip further emphasized that mental health is a human right and a vital part of survival, recovery, and rebuilding. “Healing cannot happen in isolation. It happens when we feel seen, supported, and safe,” she added.
The event featured a Run for Mental Health from Tengnoupal High School ground to ZEO Relief Camp, along with games, sports activities, and painting and slogan-writing competitions for youth and children.
Distinguished guests, including Dr. Aachal Riyal, Assistant Commandant, 3 Assam Rifles; the President of KSO Tengnoupal; the Chief of Tengnoupal Village; and several religious leaders, attended the programme, which drew a large number of youths and students.
Also read | St. John’s Catholic Church Inaugurated in Chandel
Through this observance, CWG and its partners sought to promote mental health awareness and foster spaces for psychological safety, emotional support, and trauma-informed care. The event emphasized the need to prioritize mental health—especially in times of crisis—and to build a community rooted in healing, empathy, and resilience.