The “Best Practice Guidelines for Telepsychology during Disasters (COVID-19 Pandemic)” by Mythili Hazarika, Bornali Das, Shyamanta Das, and Dyuksha Hazarika (Acknowledgement: Suresh Bada Math and Cover: Simanta Talukdar and Varsha Avadhany) that is published by the Society for Mental Health in LAMIC (SoMHiL), is released.
Mythili Hazarika, the President of the Society for Mental Health in LAMIC (SoMHiL) participating as mental health expert in the mid-day prime time at PRAG NEWS television show to address live phone-in programme on various mental health issues related to COVID-19 and mental health in general. Subsequently, former Chief Minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi called her in the personal number to appreciate her and the team’s approach of crisis helplines to provide psychological help to people in need. He lauded the mental health team and encouraged to carry on service above self.
The President of the Society for Mental Health in LAMIC (SoMHiL), Mythili Hazarika offering training to 104 first person respondents on tele-psychological counselling for behaviour and emotional problems and mental health issues in person and in webinar as well at 104 office in Guwahati.
In a panel discussion at PRAG NEWS TV channel, Mythili Hazarika, the President of the Society for Mental Health in LAMIC (SoMHiL) is speaking on the psychological impact in relation to COVID-19 pandemic and services provided through helpline numbers for tele-counselling of the psychological problems.
‘Psychiatric aspects of stress management relating to COVID-19 pandemic’ is spoken by Bornali Das (the Secretary of the Society for Mental Health in LAMIC [SoMHiL]), Mythili Hazarika (the President of SoMHiL), Shyamanta Das (the Editor-in-Chief of the Open Journal of Psychiatry & Allied Sciences [OJPAS®]) and Utpal Bora (the Managing Editor of OJPAS®) in the districts of Baksa, Goalpara, Nalbari, and Kamrup (Metro) respectively, representing the Department of Psychiatry along with departments of Community Medicine, Microbiology, and Medicine of Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH), Guwahati, Assam, India. These are parts of the GMCH initiative for ongoing community training to the healthcare workers.
Shyamanta Das, the Editor-in-Chief of the Open Journal of Psychiatry & Allied Sciences (OJPAS®), Mythili Hazarika, the President of the Society for Mental Health in LAMIC (SoMHiL), and Bornali Das, the Secretary of SoMHiL were the resource persons in the online training programme on stress management relating to COVID-19 pandemic through ZOOM from the conference hall of the Principal, Gauhati Medical College Hospital. It was the initiative of Dr. N. Lalsim, Additional Director of Health Services cum State Nodal Officer (SNO), National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), Assam, as desired by Government of Assam, for the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) team (District Programme Officer [DPO], Clinical Psychologist, Psychiatric Social Worker, and Community Nurse). Visit:
4th April 2020
The Department of Psychiatry, GMCH had trained the health care professionals from District mental health program, Assam today by webinar. The topic was on “Stress management during COVID-19 pandemic and the Editor-in-Chief of the Open Journal of Psychiatry & Allied Sciences (OJPAS®), Dr Shyamanta Das spoke on psychiatry aspects, the President of the Society for Mental Health in LAMIC (SoMHiL), Mythili Hazarika spoke on crisis management techniques and tele-psychological counselling, ethics and guidelines and Dr Bornali Das, Secretary of SoMHiL, spoke on psychosocial aspects and practically demonstrated mindfulness based stress reduction technique.
The President of the Society for Mental Health in LAMIC (SoMHiL), Mythili Hazarika is being trained in impact strengthening workshop for five hours from the University of Oxford consultants for the Right 3 National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) grant application stage 2 for reducing multi-morbidity in children with intellectual developmental disorder (IDD) in a community engagement and involvement programme funded by the Oxford under Right 3 grant.
Destination conveys gratitude and regards to all the trustees of “PATHAN HAZARIKA CHARITABLE TRUST” and the members of SoMHiL for generous donation of some of the requirements needed in shelter homes in these crucial times of lock-down due to COVID-19 pandemic. Destination has been tirelessly moving on creating awareness and advocacy on mental health, child rights, and environment. Apart from that the institution takes care of people with mental health conditions and intellectual disability. Destination appreciates the wonderful activities and noble deeds carried on under the banner of SoMHiL for the marginalised people and dynamic approach in the area of mental health. Rupa Hazarika, Founder President, Destination wrote to Mythili Hazarika, President, SoMHiL.
Bornali Das and Mythili Hazarika, the Secretary and President of the Society for Mental Health in LAMIC (SoMHiL) respectively are the resource persons in a video conference via Zoom app to train the team of tele-psychological counsellors of Global Pandemic Resource Forum (GPRF) on the best practice guidelines of tele-psychological counselling during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Global Psychiatry 