Chandel, Oct 11: Assam Rifles organised a mental health awareness session at Modi in Manipur’s Chandel district on October 10, marking World Mental Health Day and highlighting the importance of psychological well-being among security personnel.

The session, led by the Chief Medical Officer, was attended by 52 personnel and focused on stress management, emotional well-being and the need to maintain mental resilience while performing demanding operational duties.
During the programme, participants were sensitised to the importance of recognising stress, managing emotional challenges and seeking timely support to maintain psychological health. The session also emphasised that mental well-being is integral to effective decision-making, professional performance and operational preparedness.
A key focus of the interaction was the Buddy Pair System, which encourages personnel to look out for one another, identify signs of stress and provide mutual support during challenging deployments and operations.
The initiative highlighted the importance of fostering a supportive environment in which personnel can openly discuss mental health concerns and seek assistance when required. Peer support, timely intervention and awareness of psychological stress were underscored as essential elements of overall force welfare.
Security personnel often operate in demanding environments that require sustained alertness, discipline and emotional resilience. Such awareness programmes help reinforce the understanding that mental health deserves the same attention as physical fitness in maintaining operational effectiveness.
Through the initiative, Assam Rifles reaffirmed its commitment to the holistic well-being of its personnel, recognising mental health awareness as an important component of force preparedness, cohesion and sustained operational readiness.