CGWC, NHM organize three-day training on adolescent mental health in Kashmir
Srinagar Dec 25 (KINS): The Child Guidance and Wellbeing Centre (CGWC), in collaboration with the National Health Mission (NHM) and with support from UNICEF, successfully organized a three-day capacity-building programme from December 22 to 24, 2025, focusing on Adolescent Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS).

The programme was conducted for counsellors working at Adolescent Friendly Health Clinics (AFHCs) under the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) across Kashmir.
The training aimed to strengthen the skills and competencies of counsellors engaged with adolescents in schools, health facilities, and community settings throughout the Valley.
Recognizing the unique psychosocial challenges faced by adolescents in the Kashmir context, the programme focused on key areas including adolescent development, trauma-informed care, stress and anxiety management, substance use, peer and family-related issues, self-harm prevention, and the promotion of positive coping mechanisms.

Special emphasis was placed on culturally sensitive, community-based, and locally relevant counselling approaches. The programme followed a participatory training model, featuring interactive sessions, case studies drawn from local field experiences, group discussions, role plays, and experience-sharing among participants. Counsellors were also oriented on referral pathways, ethical practices, and coordination with health, education, and child protection systems to ensure holistic support for adolescents.
Speaking on the occasion, representatives from the Child Guidance and Wellbeing Centre emphasized the urgent need to strengthen frontline adolescent mental health services in Kashmir, where prolonged psychosocial stressors have significantly impacted the wellbeing of young people. Participants appreciated the training for its practical orientation and relevance to ground realities.
The programme concluded with a valedictory session and certificate distribution, reaffirming the commitment of the Child Guidance and Wellbeing Centre and the National Health Mission to strengthening adolescent mental health and psychosocial support services in Kashmir through skilled and empowered counsellors.