Patang

Mental Health & Well-being Workshop

Patang organised a two-day Mental Health & Well-being Workshop in Sambalpur, bringing together around 25 youth volunteers from rural and urban areas of Sambalpur and Bargarh. The workshop aimed to create a safe and open space where young people could understand mental health, reflect on their own experiences, and explore how they can support themselves and others in their personal lives and community work.

The sessions were facilitated by Dr. F. M. Sahoo, who shared his rich experience and knowledge through simple, practical, and engaging discussions. The volunteers explored important themes such as mental health, stress, anxiety, depression, self-awareness, and resilience. Through conversations and reflections, they also connected these topics with real-life concerns including family stress, career choices, financial pressure, supporting friends, and working with children.

One of the key learnings from the workshop was that resilience is not simply about fighting back or being strong all the time. It is also about knowing oneself, understanding one’s strengths and limitations, recognising when support is needed, and knowing whom to reach out to. The discussions encouraged volunteers to look at mental health with greater openness, empathy, and understanding.

The active participation, curiosity, questions, and personal reflections shared by the volunteers made the workshop a meaningful learning space. It also reinforced the importance of creating supportive and non-judgmental environments where young people feel comfortable talking about their emotions and seeking support when needed.

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