In today’s age of information and technology, the mobile phone has become an integral part of our lives since childhood. In this situation, teenagers will be able to live a stress-free life by keeping themselves positive. On the occasion of World Mental Health Day on October 10, the Advance Healthcare Foundation, a Kolkata-based non-governmental organisation, held a virtual symposium on Saturday. Nearly 5,000 students participated in the event virtually through the Foundation’s school network.  

Megha Chattopadhyay, the coordinator of Adolescence Club, hosted the event. Dr. Sreya Chattopadhyay, Director of the Foundation, helped Megha to take the programme forward. Dr. Chattopadhyay said a boy or a girl in adolescence could do a lot if they get the right kind of guidance from the elders at an early age. Dr. Sourav Kole, another director of the Foundation, gave information about the work done by the Advanced Healthcare Foundation. He said the Foundation has worked in organ donation, telemedicine, and also disaster management in countries like Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal. Founded in 2013, the Foundation has been providing a large number of people in the country access to quality medical care. In addition to the Rotary Club, the Foundation has been working with various organisations for the welfare of the people.  

Dehradun Mayor Sunil Unial Gama delivered the inaugural speech on the occasion. He said the present youth generation must be saved from intoxication. In his words, at present, the youth generation does not think much for the country. Awareness needs to be raised among the youth to stay away from drugs. It is the responsibility of all of us to save the youth from intoxication and show them the right direction so that they can lead the country in the future, Gama said. 

Ratnajyoti Dutta, (Hon.) National Adviser of the Foundation and well-known International Journalist,  spoke on the occasion to motivate the participating adolescent students. “In today’s digital age, we need to be more aware of the important aspects of mental health of the adolescent,” Dutta said. Stress among adolescent students is further exacerbated by the situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic situation. Staying positive in the age of information technology has become a big challenge. “The development of confidence with a healthy mind and a healthy body is the key to the success of the nation,” Dutta said. This habit has to be developed from childhood, he added. Elaborating on Swami Vivekananda’s teachings, Dutta said Swami Ji gave the utmost importance to the issue of developing self-confidence among the youth for remaining positive in life. He hoped the enriching discussion at the symposium would help the participating teenage students to better understand their inner selves. Dutta extended special thanks to all the students from the North-East who participated, especially from the school networks of Vivekananda Kendra and Vidya Bharati. He also acknowledged the Foundation’s teenage team for successfully managing the programme. 

Experts like psychologist Dr. Arti Anand, Dr. Satnam Singh Chhabra of Gangaram Hospital, Dr. Shobit Garg from Dehradun, Kolkata-based psychologist Dr. Uday Chowdhury, Deputy Commissioner of Police Eish Singhal, IPS, from New Delhi, participated in the programme and expressed views on the problems of adolescent age. Students of Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), Lions Club, Vivekananda Kendra Schools, Vidya Bharati Schools virtually participated in the event. The teenagers performed a dance composition. Volunteers Anupriya Verma, Khushi Verma, Akshita Goel, Somsi Pathania, Khushi Poddar, Mansi Anand, Shatakshi, Akansha recited poems together.

The symposium showed the way for the young generation to get rid of a stressful life. Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) was the main sponsor of the virtual event. Bizinnovision Ltd, a Delhi-based digital company, was the technology partner to the virtual symposium.