5 Steps to Take if your Child is Showing Signs of Depression

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April 11, 2018

Mental health illnesses are enveloped in shame and stigma. The statistics that surround Depression in children and adolescents are staggering. For most parents accepting their child has a mental health problem is unimaginable. We laugh over such problems, ignore them, rubbish them, suggest that it is an age at which problems manifest and believe that our child would simply grow out of it. We refuse to look at signs that may suggest our child has depression.

The Problem

Depression affects approximately 1% of the child and adolescent population. It is the leading cause for suicides with statistics establishing that 15% of individuals with depression attempt suicide. The rates of suicide in the adolescent population have quadrupled in the last few decades. These alarming statistics necessitate the need to know the symptoms of depression and what you should about it.

Manifestation of depression in children and adolescents

Depression has many signs and symptoms that can be identified if a parent is aware of what to look for. You need to be vigilant about the following:

Low mood or persistent sadness
Lack of interest in doing things
Not enjoying things that were previously pleasurable
Deterioration in academic performance
Not wanting to play or meet friends
Staying irritable most of the time
Getting into fights a lot of the time
Appearing lazy or slow in doing things
Easily fatigued or tired
Changes in appetite
Changes in sleep patterns
Feeling helpless, hopeless or worthless
Talking of self-harm

These symptoms when present continuously for two weeks indicate towards a depressive illness. Being aware of these symptoms is important to be able to ensure that you can identify the problem at the earliest and start the treatment immediately. As is the case in any physical health related illness, the longer depression remains untreated the more severe the symptoms become and the longer the duration of the treatment.

Things to do if your child is showing the symptoms

If your child is showing the above listed symptoms don’t ignore them. Instead take stock of the situation and follow the steps below to ensure that you tackle the problem at the earliest.

Don’t criticise your child or keep pushing your child to do more. It would only serve to increase the perception of stress and pressure and make your child feel worse, exaggerating the symptoms of depression. Instead offer help and support. If people around them are asking questions then you need to protect your child and ward off the questions.
Listen to your child as he or she may not be able to make sense of what is happening. Children feel equally hassled by such a problem and are unable to interpret the symptoms to understand that they may be having an illness. This can be very confusing for them and creates greater levels of distress.
Make sure you are not comparing your child to other children in order to get him/her to do more things or go out of the house or be in a happier space. This would make your child feel further unhappy and dejected with the situation he or she finds him/herself in.
Be vigilant to ensure your child is not thinking of taking any drastic step which could be harmful to him/herself. If your child is experiencing very low moods then be available and make sure you are around him or her for most of the times.
Reach out to an expert soon. Your child would recover sooner from the illness is treatment is started early. Meeting with a psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist would be recommended to determine what method treatment would be most beneficial for your child. Treatment can involve either medications or psychotherapy or both in combination.

Depression in children and adolescents is a real condition requiring early identification and treatment.

Dr Kamna Chhibber, is a Clinical Psychologist, Heading the Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences for Fortis Healthcare. She has been practicing for the last decade and is a Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, with particular interest in relationships, trauma, abuse and the impact of personality related variables on mental health.

Health authorities on alert regarding H1N1 Influenza and swine flu

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newspost

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April 11, 2018

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The health authorities in the State are on an alert following information regarding new patients of H1N1 influenza /swine flu. Dr. Archana Srivastava after holding a meeting with departmental officials informed media persons that the department had sent samples of 39 suspected patients to National Communicable Diseases Control laboratory. She informed that only one patient was found to be positive who has since then died. It has to be mentioned that Tharli MLA Magan Lal Shah had died of influenza.

She said that the health department also gets confirmation of H1n1 disease from private laboratories and only three H1N1 cases have been reported by them. One of the female patients admitted in Mahant Indresh Hospital had died on April 3, 2018. The information about the patient was made available by the hospital to Chief Medical Officer, Dehradun on April 8, as per report she was also a diabetic patient. The other two patients are undergoing treatment in Mahant Indresh hospital.

The DG health said that H1N1 virus is not an epidemic disease but has taken shape of a simple seasonal influenza. The patient can suffer from fever, cough, body ache, sore throat, burning eyes, diaharrea, vomiting and problems in breathing. She said that there is nothing to panic about and patient can consult a doctor for treatment. The anti-viral “Oselamever’ medicine is available in sufficient quantity in all the districts. She instructed all the district medical officers to be alert and stock medicine.

She said that for Swine flu prevalence “Oselamever’ 75 mg and 30 mg tablets and syrup for children have been made available in all the districts. She appealed to the people through media that they should not panic but remain vigilant. She said that H1N1 patients are categorized in three categories A,B and C and they are also treated as per their category. She further said that there was no need for sending samples of each and every patient to the laboratory. She said that the delay in laboratory reports has no connection with the treatment as treatment is symptom based.

Military Cantonments, Security and Socio-Development from it

By

Wg Cdr (Retd) Praful Bakshi

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April 10, 2018

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If you study the different facets of the threat to India, you will find that the most serious of these is the threat from China. It extends from through the whole spread of the Himalaya from Ladakh to the north to Arunachal in the east. The Himalayan peaks were till now, considered impregnable due to eternal snow. This central sector of Uttarakhand consists of two main divisions: namely Garhwal and Kumaon.

Uttarakhand`s location has a very intense strategic significance for India. It shares its border with Tibet in the north; 80 kilometer porus border with Nepal to the east, and 350 Km border with China .

However over the past fifty years or so, India has been facing intrusions or diplomatic confrontations from China. Take for instance the Indo–Nepal: the 35 sq km Kalapani area near Pithoragarh is a disputed area between India and Nepal and is under the control of the ITBP. Beyond Kalapani there is no border demarcation right up to the Chinese border. China continues to making belligerent statements, that if India can intervene in Doklum in the Bhutanese territory , then so can China in Kalapani or even Kashmir. This statement was made by Chinese foreign ministry official Deputy Director Wang Wenli in the middle of 2017

A number of Chinese helicopter intrusions in Gauchar; in Barahauti in Chamoli and intrusion by Chinese border patrols continue to threaten Indian shepherder. Meanwhile, the Chinese have increased their fighter aircraft activities in the region operating from Tibet based airfields. They have been operating their modern fighter J-10 and J-11 fleet including the newly developed stealth capable J- 20.

With this in mind, the Government of India has asked the IAF to operate Su-30s from Jolly Grant in Dehradun in Feb 2018. This is probably an evaluation exercise about the viability of operating fighter Jets from the existing infrastructure. Yet the message is loud and clear. India is seriously looking into fighter and logistic support aircraft operation from the various locations within Uttarakhand to put up with any threat in the coming future.

To meet these defence requirements, India will have to launch perhaps one of the largest Military development projects till date. We will need new runways, helipads and advanced landing grounds. The infrastructure so developed will have to be jointly catering to the requirement of both Army and the Air Force admin and fighting infrastructure, like the Missile locations, Tactical Radar and surveillance units , health and Medical infrastructure. The whole project could come up as Himalayan Theatre Command.

The three districts of Uttarakhand facing the Chinese are Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Pithoragarh, China not surprisingly considers these three the most vulnerable not only due to poor infrastructure along the border, but also because of a large scale of migration. This combination of poor administration and military infrastructure translates into a very weak second line of defense, coupled with scarce population.

Which makes us seriously think about revamping our policies regarding building Defense and cantonment infrastructure in such areas.

One look at the military infrastructural development of India in the last 200 years shows how even in the remotest of national territory, an introduction of a military cantonment brought about not only a solution to military requirement but a socio-economic change as well.

A cantonment, is primarily made to create a self sustaining infrastructure designed to meet national security objectives by maintaining, training and housing fighting infrastructure, troops and weapon systems, but it also brings with it economic progress, society development, jobs opportunities for civil population and development along with network of roads, railway station, bridges, small scale industries, hospitals, schools and colleges, along with a healthy environmental development system.

Existing cantonments in the State like Dehradun, Pithoragarh, Chakrata and Landsdowne to name a few were built by the British keeping housing and training requirements of the regiments and the recruiting centers in mind.

If Chinese consider Uttarakhand vulnerable due to lack of military supporting infrastructure then one has to look into this policy of development of Military Cantonments in strategically located spots, better now than later.

Sureeli: Uttarakhands very own pahadi doll

By

Lucky Singh

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April 10, 2018

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Young girls and their attachment to their favourite-doll is eternal. Most young ladies in their childhood have had that one favourite doll that they could spend hours playing with. So, this shouldnt come as a total surprise when you have a young, talented lady who put her skills together to come up with the hill-state’s first-ever natural DOLL endearingly named Sureeli or Charming.

Taking to Newspost, the lady behind the doll, 33 year old Himani Thapa tells us about her journey, “I graduated from Pantnagar University and went on to do my Post Graduation from National Institute of Designing, along with a Diploma in Bamboo and Fibre Development.”

Homebound, after her five year stint at Mumbai with designing and working with indigenous fabrics from the hills, Himani started her journey with Sureeli in mind. It was in Kothaal village on the outskirts of Doon, that while she was working with a group of women did Himani realise that womenfolks had a lot of inherent talent of working wonders with their hands and mind.

With sparkle in her eyes, Himani adds, “Sureeli is 100% indigenous. It is completely natural and made from Uttarakhand’s traditional crop Bheemal or locally called Bheeku, Bheemu or Bhiyalu which has been brought in use to make Sureeli, she is draped in fabric made from stinging nettle which again a fibre made from local stinging nettle shrub.”

Himani adds, “I want to encourage women hillfolk and want them to be happy and smiling. Sureeli is as natural as the women folk of the hills and has imbibed the spirit of mountain women.”

Today, women from the interiors are trying to polish their skills and experiment with the look of the doll, much to Himani’s delight. The bright young lady already has many more innovative designs up her sleeve like Fridge Magnets; Car Hangings; Bags and many such souvenirs made-in and from completely natural products Uttarakhand’s rich flora, fauna and forests have to offer.

If you too would like to get your hands on the this adorable doll which brings with it a waft of mountain air, then you can place your order with Soham Art and Museum, Mussoorie.

Chief Minister felicitates 18 farmers with “Pragatisheel Kisan Purashkar-2018

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April 10, 2018

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CM Rawat felicitated 18 progressive farmers for their contribution in farming organised by Bhartiya Krishi and Khadya Parishad and Bharitya Kisan Sangh at ONGC auditorium. On this occasion, Prof BS Bisht was nominated as chairman of Rajya Krishi Parishad. Awebsite and information booklet of the Parishad was also launched at the occasion.

Chief Minister commended the ICFA and AIFA for felicitating the farmers and said it is a good initiative to further connect farmers with agriculture and termed the experiment as innovative. He said that such programs will help in creating awareness towards agriculture and farming.

Mr. Rawat also said that growth centers were being developed in the interiors which laid stress on and traditional produce, natural fruits and processing, marketing, readymade garments, LED bulb production. Investment, subsidy and relaxation in transport was also being considered in these growth centers, so that the villagers could benefit. He said by opening readymade garments and LED production centers, rural areas would become centers of economic activities.

CM further said, “Our effort is to stop the migration from the villages and for that they were working on one policy”, while adding that “We need to make sure that our products meet highest professional standards.”

Speaking on the occasion, State Agriculture Minister, Mr. Subodh Uniyal said that state government has laid special focus on agriculture development in the state. There had been a hike of 14 percent in budget and work is on to construct 10,000 clusters to develop Uttarakhand as organic state and 5,00,000 farmers would become part of it. Uniyal said that it would be helpful to increase the income of farmers by 2022, and to check migration. He said that Chief Minister has taken more than 70 decisions for welfare of farmers in the state. He said efforts are on to develop Uttarakhand like Himachal Pradesh in the field of agriculture, agriculture officers were instructed to hold monthly “Chaupal” (public meeting) for the welfare of farmers.

Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation director Dr PK Mishra, ICFA chairman Dr MJ Khan, ICFA director Mamta Jain, Birla Institute of Applied Sciences director Dr BS Bisht, ONGC executive director and chief employee relation Alok Mishra etc. were present.

CM reviews preparation for Investment Promotion, Thailand

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newspost

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April 9, 2018

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Chief Minister Rawat has reviewed the preparation for the proposed Investment Promotion event to be held at Bangkok, Thailand on April 17-18. The event is being jointly organised by Indian High Commission and Thailand Government.

Principal Secretary, Industry, Manisha Panwar, said that the possibilities of the investment avenues in Uttarakhand and the investment policies of the state will be shared with the investors during the two-day event.

On the first day of the tour, the CM and other officers will visit the industrial estate besides meeting the investors. A meeting with core groups in the food processing and tourism sectors will be held separately on the same day. A road show on the Uttarakhand Tourism would also be organised on the first day of the event.

On the second day of the visit, the Thailand government would be organizing a seminar “India Your Destiny, Your New Destination (Focus on Uttarakhand)”. Chief Minister Uttarakhand would be addressing the inaugural session of the seminar, as the first session will be based on Uttarakhand.

Bhuli; A tale of two friends

By

Tania Saili

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April 9, 2018

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Not everyday does one find their creation sharing space with their favourite icon but then that’s the stuff dreams are made off, and that’s exactly what Tanya Kotnala and Tanya Singh’s illustration entitled Bhuli had in store for them.

Born and brought up in Dehradun, family friends for over a generation now, Tanya Kotnala and Tanya Singh shared more than just their first name. Despite different educational streams their goal to do something for their homeland got the dynamic girls onto a single platform with a mutual mission in mind.

Speaking to Newspost, Tanya Kotnala tells us, ‘When I returned to Uttarakhand after finishing my NIFT in 2015, I felt in terms of culture, the hill-state lacked a stage to showcase its multi-talent. For us Bhuli is an ideology, a way of thinking to put Uttarakhand on the map of art and culture.’

Initially what started as an inherent urge to make illustrations for research documents in college, got Tanya Kotnala come up with a colourful doodle of a pahadi girl whom she endearingly entitled Bhuli or ‘little sister’ in Garhwali which has since then become their mascot/logo for whatever project they undertake.

Tanya Singh, a nutritionist by profession has worked extensively on Women health with her book on breastfeeding carrying the Bhuli illustrations, she adds, ‘right now we want to focus on women development, women health, entrepreneurship and produce products that are upright for the market. We plan to give design solutions along with content which will help rural Uttarakhand and more so its women folk financially.”

Today Bhuli has grown in leaps and bounds working with government collaborations such as posters made for ‘International Breastfeeding Awareness Week’ were displayed at 19,000 Anganwadi Centers as well as initiatives under “First 1000 days” and Anemia too.

There have been ample self-initiated projects too, Bhuli Limited Edition calendars 2017 celebrates the essence of cultural diversity across India, series of Aipan style illustration series celebrating flora, fauna, food, art, craft & food culture of Uttarakhand as well as Bhuli 2018 calendar which unfolds the diverse cultural heritage of India through its ‘lesser known dances’. Tanya Kotnala tells us, “through these self-initiated projects, we try to generate revenue to fuel our future long-term goal that is to upgrade skills, bring development and innovation in existing products trying to make it attractive for the masses.”

The latest edition is SPACE BHULI where the duo are trying to identify and build spaces in Uttarakhand where women are able to express their thoughts and feelings with an assurance of being heard.

So while Bhuli might be just a few months old, she has already shared social media space with the wax model of George Clooney at the Madame Tussade museum in Amsterdam, been clicked under the Eiffel Tower in Paris while carrying a social message from her home-state.

Rest assured, with two passionate women behind her Bhuli is sure to be a globetrotter wearing the mantel of being a global pahadi with pride, as she undertakes her journey with her two mentors, onwards and beyond.

Student of the Year II begins shoot in Uttarakhand

By

Tania Saili

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April 9, 2018

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The hill-state of Uttarakhand has now become a hotspot for Bollywood filmmakers who prefer the picturesque hill-state for their shooting locale to foreign destinations. Over the years big Bollywood directors such as Karan Johar, Farhan Akhtar, Sharat Katariya, Shree Narayan Singh, Tigmanshu Dhuliya, Ajai Devgan, John Abraham and many more have chosen Uttarakhand and shot extensively in its picturesque locales dotted all over the State.

In the recent past, the film units of Bollywood block busters such as ‘Bunty aur Babli’, ‘Lakshya’, ‘Dum Laga kar Haisha’, ‘Paan Singh Tomar’, ‘Bati gul meter chaalo,’ ‘Kedarnath’, ‘Parmanu’ have been shot in places known for its scenic beauty such as Mussoorie, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Pithoragarh, Chamoli, Dehradun and other as well. Following this growing trend is Director Puneet Malhotra who is all set to shoot the sequel to Student of the Year in Mussoorie and Dehradun over the next few weeks.

Director Karan Johar’s ‘Student of the Year,’ which was the debutant movie of actor Alia Bhatt, Sidharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan was short on-location in Dehradun’s Forest Institute of India and Kasiga School, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that its sequel’s will be shot in the region as well.

Student of the Year part II, will see emerging action-hero Tiger Shroff shake a leg with Ananya Pandey (daughter of Chunky Pandey) in her debutant movie along with TV actor Tara Tutariya who makes the transition from television to films with this movie.

The film unit had done a detailed recee towards the end of last year and have been in Dehradun for the past one week tying up loose ends before they start shooting extensively in the valley and in-around Mussoorie over the next 4-5 weeks that is said to begin from today.

CM steps in to make sure NCERT books available to all

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newspost

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April 8, 2018

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Uttarakhand Chief Minister Rawat has given strict instructions to all the District Magistrates of the state to ensure that NCERT books are made available to the students and parents through book sellers and retailers.

The Chief Minister instructed that all the book sellers should be directed that the retailers should provide NCERT books as per needs. Action will be taken against those who don’t provide NCERT books to small book sellers as per their requirement and hoard stocks.

Some book sellers had complained to the Chief Minister that a few book sellers were refusing to provide books in small numbers. Taking this complaint seriously, Chief Minister Mr. Trivendra Singh Rawat gave directions to the District Magistrates to take strict action against the concerned persons in such cases. He said that authentic books should be provided to the students.

Taking back a flavour of Uttarakhand this Chardham season

By

Tania Saili

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April 8, 2018

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When one thinks of the mountains, one pictures crystal-clear air, blue skies, snow peak mountains, brooks and streams, but we, at times forget that it’s the people, their art, culture, tradition and cuisine which makes the mountains as special as they are.

This Chardham Yatra season, District Magistrate of Rudraprayag, Mangesh Ghildiyal is attempting to make it a little more special not only for lakhs of pilgrims who make their way to the 8^th century Shiva temple situated at a height of 11,755 feet in the inner recesses of Garhwal every Chardham Yatra season, but also for local small time entrepreneurs and their indigenous produce.

The District Magistrate has made it mandatory for shopkeepers being allotted shops along the Kedarnath Shrine from Gaurikund all the way upto the Kedarnath shrine to serve local produce such as juice and squash made from Amla, Malta and Rhododendron (buraas) to refresh and revive tired souls and feet of pilgrims as they begin their pilgrimage on foot.

Further more, the District magistrate has made an appeal to hotels and restaurants that dot the country-side enroute to Kedarnath that they should include a Garhwali cuisine menu for their customers such as roti, gait ki daal, phaada, kadi, jhangoray ki kheer etc so that tourists can get a flavor of what Uttarakhandi food is all about.

The portals of the Kedarnath Shrine will open on the 29^th of April this year, and over the next 8-9 months close to ten lakh pilgrims will make their way to the Shrine from both home and abroad. This unique initiative by the district administration will go a long way to ensure that indigenous produce get that much required boost which will in turn bring in money as well as stem migration and for the tourists, they will get a true-taste of the hill-state other than just spiritual memories to take back this Yatra season.

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