Shillong: SANKER marked World Mental Health Day this Saturday in Shillong with a firm push to dismantle the stigma surrounding mental illness. Established nearly twenty years ago by Dr. Sandi Syiem, the facility began as a small unit for alcohol dependence. It now houses 98 inmates who receive care from a team of clinical psychologists and psychiatrists.
Senior Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. Eddie Mukhim addressed the gathering of guests and inmates. He pushed for a shift in perspective. "Mental health sickness is not a character defect but a disease and must be treated as such," Dr. Mukhim said. He argued that doctors are not the only experts, as patients and caregivers hold vital knowledge about their own needs.
Dr. Mukhim urged policymakers, families, and schools to listen closely to those affected by mood swings or schizophrenia-related symptoms like hearing voices. He insisted that children should have a seat at the table in decisions affecting them. The event included songs from SANKER inmates and performances by teachers from the Harmini School of Music. This year’s global theme is Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change.
The program featured a moving account from a mother whose son fell ill while studying outside Meghalaya. She highlighted the role families play in the healing process. A recovering patient also shared his story. Dr. Mukhim reminded the audience to internalize the phrase, "Nothing about us, without us."
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