Anantnag, Jul 30: Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag on Thursday concluded a three-day capacity-building programme aimed at strengthening community-level response to substance use disorders, with experts highlighting the need to address the growing mental health challenges faced by women.
The concluding session of the “Capacity Building Programme for Grassroot Workers on Substance Use Management and Rehabilitation” featured a panel discussion on “Women Mental Health and Substance Use,” where speakers underlined the importance of early intervention, reducing stigma and expanding community-based rehabilitation.
The panel comprised Dr. Rehana Amin, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry; Dr. Ufaque Muzaffar, Assistant Professor, Department of Gynaecology; and Dr. Saima Mushtaq, Head of the Department of Biochemistry.
The discussion was moderated by Dr. Mohammad Younis, Resident Doctor, Department of Psychiatry.
The experts discussed the increasing burden of mental health issues among women and the stigma surrounding substance use, stressing that timely identification and referral are essential for improving treatment outcomes.
They also highlighted the role of grassroots workers in raising awareness, identifying vulnerable individuals and connecting them with appropriate healthcare and rehabilitation services.
The programme, held from July 28 to July 30, was the ninth batch of the training series organised by the Department of Psychiatry, GMC Anantnag.
Forty participants attended the training, including representatives from the Education Department, Social Welfare Department, self-help groups and nursing students.
The programme focused on equipping frontline workers with practical skills for early identification, basic counselling and referral of people affected by substance use disorders, enabling them to provide timely support at the community level.
The training was conducted at the Nursing College, MMABM Associated Hospital, Janglat Mandi, Anantnag.
