Press Release
Press Release from Department of Health and Family Welfare
Information & Public Relations Department
Gangtok, April 5, 2024 — A three-day residential training program for Adolescent Health Counsellors and newly inducted Mental Health Counsellors from Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), District Hospitals, Urban Health and Wellness Centres of Sikkim concluded successfully today at the Conference Hall of Hotel Yak and Yeti, Burtuk.
Held from 3rd to 5th April 2024, the training aimed to enhance the capacity of counsellors on key topics such as basic communication skills with adolescents and parents, reproductive and sexual health, adolescent nutrition, non-communicable diseases, health promotion, mental health, gender-based violence, and injury prevention.
The Key objective of the training was to enhance the knowledge, skills and practices of counselor to effectively deal with adolescents and to counsel with confidence providing effective, appropriate and adequate counseling services on various life skill tools to handle peer pressure, manage their stress, fear, anxiety and psychological phobia during this phase.
The resource persons for the training were Dr. Ravikant Pinjarkar & Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Assistant Professors from NIMHANS, Bangalore, Dr. Chungden Lepcha, Chief Consultant, Obstetrics & Gynecology & Dr. Sonam Ongmu Lassopa, Senior Clinical Psychologist from New STNM Hospital, Sochakgang and Dr. Karma Chaden Bhutia, Additional Director cum State Program Officer, RKSK, NHM, Sikkim.
Highlights of the Training Program:
Day 1 focused on understanding adolescent psychology and building foundational counselling skills. Topics included:
Adolescent development and psychology
Core counselling techniques such as active listening, empathy, and open-ended questioning
Common psychological issues such as peer pressure, anxiety, and depression
Mental health challenges including substance use, technology addiction, and trauma
Day 2 built upon the first day's learning, with sessions on:
Mental health screening and referrals
Behavioral counseling for risky behaviors
Engaging parents in counseling and managing resistance
Day 3 covered critical topics such as:
Reproductive and sexual health, including menstruation, contraception, and safe abortion.
Introduction to school-based adolescent health initiatives like the School Health and Wellness Program and Peer Educator model.
Presentation of adolescent health factsheets for Sikkim.
Each day included active group activities, practical applications, and open discussions, ensuring participants not only gained theoretical knowledge but also practical counseling experience. The program concluded with a post-training assessment to evaluate knowledge gained over the three days. Dr. Karma Chaden Bhutia, in her closing remarks, emphasized the importance of equipping frontline counselors with compassionate communication skills and updated knowledge, adding, “Empowered counsellor can become change makers in shaping a healthier, resilient generation of adolescents in Sikkim.”
The event marks a significant step under the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) under National Health Mission of Health and Family Welfare Department,Government of Sikkim towards strengthening Adolescent mental health and wellbeing services in the State.
Issued by:
State Programe Office – RKSK
Department of Health and Family Welfare,
Government of Sikkim
Held from 3rd to 5th April 2024, the training aimed to enhance the capacity of counsellors on key topics such as basic communication skills with adolescents and parents, reproductive and sexual health, adolescent nutrition, non-communicable diseases, health promotion, mental health, gender-based violence, and injury prevention.
The Key objective of the training was to enhance the knowledge, skills and practices of counselor to effectively deal with adolescents and to counsel with confidence providing effective, appropriate and adequate counseling services on various life skill tools to handle peer pressure, manage their stress, fear, anxiety and psychological phobia during this phase.
The resource persons for the training were Dr. Ravikant Pinjarkar & Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Assistant Professors from NIMHANS, Bangalore, Dr. Chungden Lepcha, Chief Consultant, Obstetrics & Gynecology & Dr. Sonam Ongmu Lassopa, Senior Clinical Psychologist from New STNM Hospital, Sochakgang and Dr. Karma Chaden Bhutia, Additional Director cum State Program Officer, RKSK, NHM, Sikkim.
Highlights of the Training Program:
Day 1 focused on understanding adolescent psychology and building foundational counselling skills. Topics included:
Adolescent development and psychology
Core counselling techniques such as active listening, empathy, and open-ended questioning
Common psychological issues such as peer pressure, anxiety, and depression
Mental health challenges including substance use, technology addiction, and trauma
Day 2 built upon the first day's learning, with sessions on:
Mental health screening and referrals
Behavioral counseling for risky behaviors
Engaging parents in counseling and managing resistance
Day 3 covered critical topics such as:
Reproductive and sexual health, including menstruation, contraception, and safe abortion.
Introduction to school-based adolescent health initiatives like the School Health and Wellness Program and Peer Educator model.
Presentation of adolescent health factsheets for Sikkim.
Each day included active group activities, practical applications, and open discussions, ensuring participants not only gained theoretical knowledge but also practical counseling experience. The program concluded with a post-training assessment to evaluate knowledge gained over the three days. Dr. Karma Chaden Bhutia, in her closing remarks, emphasized the importance of equipping frontline counselors with compassionate communication skills and updated knowledge, adding, “Empowered counsellor can become change makers in shaping a healthier, resilient generation of adolescents in Sikkim.”
The event marks a significant step under the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) under National Health Mission of Health and Family Welfare Department,Government of Sikkim towards strengthening Adolescent mental health and wellbeing services in the State.
Issued by:
State Programe Office – RKSK
Department of Health and Family Welfare,
Government of Sikkim