Kohima: Peace Channel kicked off its October campaign, Every Life Matters, at the Peace Centre in Chümoukedima on September 28. The initiative began with a leadership training program for Peace Club members focused on suicide prevention and mental health awareness. The organization intends to bring this outreach to schools across Nagaland to train students in spotting emotional distress.
Sebastian Daisinglung Kamsuan, an Assistant Professor at the North East Institute of Social Sciences and Research, led the session. He taught students to identify key behavioral shifts. Warning signs include social withdrawal, sleep changes, expressions of hopelessness, and the sudden abandonment of valued belongings. Students also learned to watch for sudden, unearned calmness after long bouts of sadness.
The training leaned on the ACT approach. This stands for Ask or acknowledge, Care, and Tell. Leaders were told to listen without judgment and loop in trusted adults when a situation escalates. Peace Channel stated, "The campaign carries the message that every life matters and that young people deserve care, support and access to appropriate help."
Participants spent the day running role-playing drills. These exercises tested how to approach a withdrawn classmate and how to escalate concerns to teachers. Peace Channel hopes these practical skills will turn schools into safer environments for students to find help.
Updated at 29th September 2026 at 1:49pm
Trainers added that students should look for direct talk about a desire to die, as this ranks among the primary red flags for suicidal intent. The program also pushes for peer support as a central pillar, training the leaders to handle sensitive situations through compassionate communication and responsible referral.
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