PAMPORE: Child Guidance and Wellbeing Center-IMHANS, Kashmir organised one day capacity building program with ASHA Workers of Pulwama district at government degree College Pampore on Saturday.
In order to maintain mental health in children, a day long capacity building programme on Role of ASHA workers in identification of Psychosocial and Mental Health issues among children and adolescents, was organised by Child Guidance and Wellbeing Centre-IMHANS, Kashmir at Government Degree College, Pampore.
A good number of Asha workers from the medical block Pampore and other areas of the Pulwama district participated in the Programme.
During the programme, the experts gave detailed information on various topics related to the prevention of mental illness in children. They said that if we can keep the child mentally healthy then in this way our children will also be physically healthy. They have put a lot of emphasis on keeping children mentally healthy.
Dr Professor Seema Naaz Principal GDC Pampore, in her welcome address, expressed her gratitude towards the organizers for arranging the training and the participants for attending. She said that she is hopeful that post training they will be able to cater to the needs of children in the communities.
Dr Syed Mujtaba-Training Coordinator CGWC highlighted the objectives of the programme and the need for integrating mental health in the mainstream by such capacity building programs.
First technical session was held by Adil Wadoo-Programme Coordinator CGWC , he explained the varied dynamics of child mental health and the role of ASHA workers in promoting mental health in the communities and their role in better identification and referral of children in need of psycho-social and mental health services.
The second technical session was held by Mohammad Shaheen-Occupational Therapist CGWC whose session was about contextualising mental health issues of children in need of care and protection and the various developmental disorders faced by children.
The training workshop aimed at imparting skills and enhancing the existing skill base of ASHA Workers
GDC Professor Shah Lateef formally presented the vote of thanks.
” We organised a training programme at GDC Pampore, more than 100 ASHA workers from Pampore, Pulwama and other blocks took part,” Syed Mujtaba Training Coordinator CGWC told Kashmir Reader, adding that the purpose of this event was to train sensitise ASHA workers on Mental health among children.
He added that during the past three years COVID disrupted the normal life cycle which impacted the mental health of children.
” The ASHA workers are directly associated with the children, we want to enhance their existing capabilities and how they can promote and protect mental health,” he said.
He said that after the eruption of the COVID, the social structure of the students changed and they were caught by electronic devices like mobile phones. ” My request to parents is to keep their children away from mobile phones,” he said.
The ASHA workers were sensitized to identify the mental health issues among children and link them with interventions.

BILAL HABIB