Srinagar, Jul 24: Mohammad Shahid*, a class 8th student has been well in studies and wants to become an engineer. Since childhood, he would secure over 80 percent of marks in every examination. However, during 2020, there was a significant change in his behavior. He remained glued to television, watching latest happenings by coronavirus across the world. He seldom made any reading. Even anxiety had caused him loss of appetite.
Worried over son for losing interest in studies and remains disturbed, his father took him to Child Guidance and Wellbeing Centre (CGWC) at Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS) Srinagar.
“He had lost appetite and was forcibly taking a few morsels of rice in the evening. After few months, there was a significant improvement in his mental health. He also took counseling sessions and now lives a normal life,” Shahid’s father who hails from North Kashmir’s Baramulla district said.
He is one among the worried parents who visited CGWC at IMHANS Srinagar.
Similarly, the memory of Imran Bhat*, 13 had weakened after his uncle passed away in November 2022.
“He was so frustrated that he did not know whether it is Saturday or Sunday. He would wake up the whole night and made a cry. He became very aggressive and fought with family over small things. He had lost interest in studies,” Bhat’s father who is from South Kashmir Pulwama said.
In April this year, he visited the CGWC IMHANS. After discussing his son’s issue with a doctor, he was told to hold positive discussions, keep his son engaged in studies and physical activities.
“He was prescribed few medicines to make him stable. I have been following advice of doctors and counselors which has brought good results so far and has aroused his interest for studies through counselling. I also bought canvas and paint for him. All these things have brought good results and my son looks much better now,” he added.
CGWC at IMHANS Kashmir is a lone institution in valley with a multidisciplinary team of professionals established in December 2018 under the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) of UNICEF.
An official said CGWC is well equipped with an experienced multidisciplinary team that provides specialized services like counseling, therapies, legal assistance, pharmacological intervention, community intervention and other psycho-social supportive programs.
Its broader functions are OPD services, psycho education, mass awareness, community outreach and capacity development programs of various stakeholders. Ten to fifteen children in the age group of 4 and 18 facing mental health issues visit CGWC on an average daily, he informs.
The CGWC is providing treatment free of cost, says the official adding a mental health care plan is being framed and counseling sessions are being held with the affected children for a few months.
(Name of children and their parents have been changed on their request)
