Major Gen Manish Kumar, IG Assam Rifles (North) (5th from L), Hikali Achumi (4th from L), Kenei Ritse (5th from R) seen with other dignitaries during the launching of campaign for mental health & substance abuse at Mt. Olive College Kohima on August 12.
Morung Express News
Kohima | August 12
Stating that “for too long, the stigma associated with mental health and drug abuse has caused many to suffer in silence”, Major Gen Manish Kumar, IG Assam Rifles (North) on Monday underscored the need to confront these issues by fostering an environment for dialogue and support system.
Addressing the International Youth Day and launching of Campaign for Mental Health and Substance Abuse at Mt. Olive College, Kohima, he asserted that the silence must be broken to pave the way for healing and recovery.
The Awareness Campaign on Mental Health and Substance Abuse with Kenei Ritse, Miss North East 2023, Neiketuno Sechü, Miss Nagaland 2023 and Hikali Achumi, Miss Nagaland 2022 under the banner, “Breaking the Silence” is being presented by ACTS (AID|CARE|TRUST|SUPPORT) and supported by IG Assam Rifles (North), Department of Social Welfare, Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and Mt Olive College, Kohima.
In this regard, Major Gen Manish Kumar commended the unwavering dedication and commitment of the initiative while expressing that “it symbolises the strength and resilience of our community and are pivotal in our quest to break the silence surrounding drug abuse and mental health.” With the youth as part of the Campaign, he also remarked that, “the youth are not only our future but also the driving force of our present.”
“It is essential therefore, that we are taught youth centric approach, empowering them with knowledge and truth to combat these challenges,” he pointed out.
Further underscoring that the youth must be equipped with the strength to seek help, the courage to speak out and the resilience to support their peers, he maintained that, “the Breaking the Silence Campaign spanning three states of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur for the next three months is a testament towards our collective effort.” He said it also represents a unified effort to address these pressing issues and fostering a more aware society.
The culmination of the Campaign, he added, “will mark not just the end of a journey but the beginning of a sustained effort to keep these conversations alive” and further urged everyone to advocate the issue. “Let us work together to break the silence, shatter the stigma and build a community where everyone feels seen, heard and supported. Let us walk this journey with hope and determination. Together we can, together we will make a difference,” he expressed.
Together we can break the silence
Kenei Ritse, Miss North East 2023 gave a brief highlight on the “Beauty with a purpose project” that was initiated by beauty queens for humanitarian issues such as mental health and drug abuse. She also highlighted its primary objectives which surround around destigmatizing the concept of mental health, breaking the silence and for people to speak up respectively.
Hikali Achumi, Miss Nagaland 2022 recalled that they embarked on a mega campaign on substance abuse last year, which has been expanded this year. Asserting that “Breaking the Silence that focuses on mental health and substance abuse, is very much the need of the hour”, she said that, “the struggle is real” while also pointing out that this is an issue that is prevailing everywhere.
“We acknowledge the harsh struggles of this issue and aim to instil this awareness so that we can empower them to make informed choices. This very campaign is very close to our hearts and we are committed to make profound impact in as many lives as possible. Together we can break the silence,” she remarked.
Highlights of the event included invocation by Newtoli, Chaplain, welcome address by Burakum Ao, special performances by Mt. Olive College Kohima and Kivito and vote of thanks by the Organising Committee while Santsuthang, Asst Prof, Department of Political Science was the host.
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