Nagaland: Come be part of a noble cause with IPCER
DIMAPUR: The Institute of Psychology Counselling and Educational Research (IPCER) has invited stakeholders and citizens of Nagaland to be part of a noble cause — "Change the individual's mindset to bring changes in the society" to mark the World Mental Health Day observed every year on October 10, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health.
The theme for this year's World Mental Health Day, set by the World Federation for Mental Health, is 'Dignity in Mental Health-Psychological & Mental Health First Aid for All' which will enable us to contribute to the goal of taking mental health out of the shadows so that people in general feel more confident in tackling the stigma, isolation and discrimination that continues to plague people with mental health conditions, their families and careers.
The IPCER was established on 7th September 2012 under the aegis of Ministry of Mount Mary Academy, Chumukedima Nagaland. IPCER mainly focuses on providing training on guidance & counselling, teachers & principals' transformation programmes, workshops and seminars on current mental issues, individual counselling and group counselling for those who are going through difficult situation at personal level, family and society at large.
Since 2013, the IPCER has been conducting its psycho-education classes tuned towards the late teenage and early adult students at Mount Mary College & Mount Mary Higher Secondary School, Chumukedima. The institute also offers updated and customised certificate courses in child guidance and basic counselling skills for teachers, counsellors, social workers or anybody who wants to enhance their skills.
The IPCER's holding true to its motto "Change the individual's mindset to bring changes in the society" has been tirelessly working conducting workshops and seminars on mental health, guidance and counselling, personal development etc. in and around the state.
The founder –Director of this institute Ms. Nukshilemla Esther Imsong, is of the opinion that the Nagas in general should wake up from their deep slumber and learn to change their mindset, so that we can have a prosperous future.
As she was pursuing her studies in Singapore, she realised that even though the Nagas and the Singaporeans and for that matter all the human race has the same capacity to succeed in life but owing to often neglected differences in the mindset, there exist a wide disparities among different society and individuals.
With the new found vision to educate the Nagas in particular, she established this institute along with some likeminded colleagues. She strives to bring about change in the individual's mindset through proper education in the field of positive psychology, counselling, self-awareness and mental health.
She believes that mental health is very important in our life, to have a positive attitude towards self which in turn reflect towards the society. She wants to bring a change of mindset in Nagaland like those developed countries with a mindset of challenge, independence and courage without blaming on each other, having a dignity of labour by reaching out to as many Nagas as possible through this institute.
One astonishing fact about all the present day successful countries and cities is that, it took the vision of only one man having the right mindset which brought about change in the entire society. The mindset of "Survivor of the foetus".
Currently, the IPCER has a total of 7 team members, led by its founder Ms. Nukshilemla Esther Imsong, co-founder Mr. C. Teeya Imsong, Miss. Bokatoli, Counselling Psychologist, Miss Atoli, Assistant Counsellor, Ms. Chumbeno, Counsellor (Child Guidance) and Mr. Charles A/V Technician.
IPCER is Affiliated with All Nagaland Counsellor Association (ANCA), Sampurna Montfort College for Counselling Psychology, Bangalore, Alumni Association, Association of Indian School Counsellors and Allied Professionals (AISCAP) and NorthEast Career Club (NECC).
Some of the activities undertaken by ICPER included Guidance and Counselling courses, Psycho-education courses for schools and colleges, Self-awareness programme for schools & colleges, Mental Health Awareness programmes, Teachers & Principals Transformation programme, School Transformation Programme, Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), Career Guidance, Personality Development, Mindset Mastery Programme
World Health Organisation defines Mental Health "as a state of wellbeing in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and enable to make contribution to his or her community".
Mental Illness on the other hand, may be defined as any disease or condition that influences the way a person thinks, feels, behaves and or relates to others and to his or her surroundings.
There has always been a stigma attached to the word "mental" irrespective of whether it is mental health or illness. This stigma acts as a barrier to people seeking help for mental health problems and mental illness. However, it can be eradicated by positively influencing by exposure to accurate information. Everyone has mental health regardless of whether or not they have mental illness.
Today, the youth especially the teens and early adult students are a bunch of very vulnerable population. They are in a period of their lives that is crucial for their mental health development. In this present times, the students spends more time in schools than anywhere else outside their home. Schools are often challenged to deal with youth mental health, but are seriously under-equipped and inadequately supported to handle this responsibility. It is high time for schools and colleges to introduce mental health literacy among their students. Educators and school staffs need to be literate in mental health literacy to cope with such sensitive issues
For more details : Contact: +91 9402684978 (M),MMC , Ward No.9 Chumukedima :Nagaland
(TNT News)
Image: contributed by Nukshilemla Esther Imsong
