Assam-Lingzey, Dec 20
Three days long Counsellors & Volunteers training commenced here at SICUN, Assam-Lingzey from today.
The program was organized by Sikkim Against Addiction Towards Healthy India (SAATHI), a project initiative under Chief Minister’s Youth Empowerment and Self Reliant Mission, 2013, and Health Care, Human Services & Family Welfare Department. The training program was organized for Health Educators, Teachers and NGO members so that they can help the schools in dealing with the substance abuse cases.
Dr. Uttam Pradhan, Director, Health Care, Human Services & Family Welfare Department graced the occasion as chief guest; Mr. Hari Prakash and Mrs. Sushma Bhattarai, School Coordinators from Human Resource Development Department were the special guest.
During inaugural function, Dr. Uttam Pradhan appreciated the effort of Schools and NGOs to curb drug addiction. He mentioned that every children must be physically and mentally healthy, so that they can focus on their studies and their career properly. He also highlighted the importance of training on “Basic skills of Counseling” as it would help them to handle the cases effectively. He urged the participants to take this opportunity seriously and try to learn the art of counselling. Mrs. Sushma Bhattarai gave brief talk on importance of guidance and counselling at School level. She mentioned that teachers are the second parents of students. They must take care of students and to be vigilant regarding students’ activities. After that session was started with pre-assessment and Dr. C. S. Sharma’s session on “Epidemiology and problems of substance use disorder”.
The training program will have session on Epidemology and problem of substance use disorders, Etiology of substance use disorders, Assessment and diagnosis of substance use disorders, Motivation and treatment in substance use disorders, Identifying & managing dual diagnosis in substance abuse, Discuss about reaction of substance abuse with other mental illness like anxiety, depression stress and adjustment problems how to identify dual diagnosis parents, when and how to refer, how to counsel such patients, Referral for treatment of substance and early signs of a student at risk use disorders, Adolescent and treatment of substance use disorders .
Total 122 participants from Schools, NGOs and Health Department have registered for three days training program on basic skills of counselling.