A one-day child-friendly Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support (MHPSS) clinic for internally displaced children was held at Omba Ching, Bishnupur district, on Tuesday. The initiative was jointly organized by the Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPC), the Departments of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, RIMS, the Department of Social Welfare, and New Life Foundation.
Deputy Commissioner Pooja Elangbam, who attended the event, lauded the organizers for their timely intervention in addressing the emotional and psychological needs of displaced children. She urged similar programmes to be conducted in other relief camps and highlighted the importance of empathy and understanding in child upbringing.
“Children must be nurtured with love and patience, not burdened with unrealistic expectations. One mistake should not define their future,” she said, encouraging caregivers to focus on trust-building, education, and emotional growth over material comfort.
MCPC Chairperson Keisam Pradipkumar, Dr. S. Gojendra (HoD Psychiatry, RIMS), Dr. Sameeta Ng. (HoD Clinical Psychology, RIMS), and Dr. L. Pishak (Director, New Life Foundation) also attended the event.
The clinic featured mental health screening, counselling, and free medicine distribution by a RIMS medical team. Additionally, sports materials, stationery, and blankets were distributed to children by the dignitaries.
