By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, August 21: Adolescent is the most important ‘transitional period’, which either makes or breaks an individual, says the trainers from Expression India at the three-day workshop on ‘Adolescent Health’ conducted by the department of health at the Club House in Mcleod Ganj today.
Regarding development of mental and physical health of the Tibetan adolescents as an important part of a holistic growth, the department in association with Expression India, an organization promoting child and adolescent wellbeing in an inclusive environment for Indian Schools, conducted the workshop (August 21-23) to educate and discuss adolescent health in Tibetan schools.
Uma Sharma, Ritu Sharma and Meenu Agarwal, trainers from Expression India, while speaking to Phayul said being an important ‘transitional period’, it is important to understand and know how to deal with them considering the changing scenario of toady’s world.
Psychologist by profession, Uma Sharma said, “Our basic aim is to enable all the counselors and teachers here to better understand adolescent and bridge the gap so that they (children) do not feel lost at this age.”
Suggesting the best way for an adult to understand an adolescent, she said, “As soon as we grow up, we forget how we were at that age. We tend to think that we were perfect and never did anything like them. However, if we go back to our childhood, we have done everything these kids are doing nowadays.”
Titled ‘Building life skills for adolescent development and well being’, Health Kalon, Choekyong Wangchuk attended as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the workshop that was participated by 52 participants. Councilors, staff nurses and teachers from 21 different schools, and 12 nurses from various Tibetan settlements.
Kalon Choekyong Wangchuk stressed the importance of giving proper guidance to the adolescents at schools to avoid any negligence during the adolescent period, which according to him is the most important development period.
“It is our collective responsibility to guide them towards the right path during their period of physical and emotional development,” the health minister said, “These days there are more ways an adolescent can come under negative influences, hence it has become more important for us to address the matter.”
Pempa, a medical staff at Upper TCV, said, “Being far from their home and parents, the children become the responsibility of the school. Hence, students, especially girls who go through physical changes, it becomes more important for us to guide them and help them throughout.”
