AIIMS Bilaspur Hosts Mental Health Awareness Week, Highlights Workplace Mental Well-being
World Mental Health Day, celebrated annually in October, its aim is to raise public awareness and dispel myths, misconceptions, and stigmas surrounding mental illness through sensitization efforts. Under the leadership of AIIMS Bilaspur’s Executive Director, Professor Dr. Veer Singh Negi, the Department of Psychiatry successfully organized an awareness week with significant contributions from Dr. Jyoti Gupta and Dr. Bhupendra Yadav, Assistant Professors.
The awareness week kicked off with a poster-making competition involving nursing students, hospital staff, and patients from the psychiatry department. Tamanna (First Year) won first place, Tanya Yadav (Third Year) took second, and Anamika (First Year) secured third. Fourth place was shared by Deepak Chopra (Hospital Attendant) and a patient undergoing treatment.
A workshop titled “Positive Mental Health at the Workplace” was held for nursing officers. Dr. Jyoti Gupta discussed how soft skills can help alleviate workplace stress, while Dr. Bhupendra Yadav (Retired Lieutenant Colonel) led role-play exercises to teach nursing officers how to handle workplace challenges calmly while ensuring patient care.
The third day featured a street play performed by B.Sc. nursing students in the OPD area. Directed by the head of the nursing department, the play raised awareness on topics like mental health challenges at work, societal stigma surrounding mental illness, the effects of ragging on children, and misconceptions about witchcraft. Following the play, Dr. Bhupendra Yadav and Dr. Jyoti Gupta provided information on the symptoms, causes, and treatment of mental disorders, as well as tobacco cessation programs and addiction treatment options.
Rohit Gupta (MSSO) stressed the importance of family, society, friends, and workplace colleagues in supporting mental health care, prevention, and treatment. He also encouraged individuals to utilize the government’s “Tele-MANAS” helpline (14416) in case of emergencies.
On the final day, Dr. Jyoti Gupta spoke to nursing students on the topic of “Soft Skills in Healthcare” and shared strategies for maintaining positive mental health.
Psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, nursing tutors, nursing officers, and medical social service officers participated in the event, answering public questions and encouraging individuals to seek treatment for mental health issues at the psychiatry department.
