Key highlights under the SPLGBTQ program: 

 

1. World Mental Health Day (October 10, 2024), was held. It was a discussion on                  "Mental Health at the Workplace," exploring the evolving nature of work                            environments and the importance of consistent mental health conversations.

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2. Three-days Queer Leadership Workshop (October 17-19, 2024) that aimed to                   empower young LGBTQIA+ individuals with skills in self-care, solidarity,                           leadership, and understanding queer histories and rights was held.

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3. Free clinical counseling to marginalized communities by a team of experienced           LGBTQ affirmative counsellors.

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4. Provide Psychosocial Peer Counseling Support/Program  at various relief camps         through dedicated volunteers who are passionate about helping others. These           volunteers offer a listening ear and share their own experiences to create an               atmosphere. In cases requiring specialized attention, we facilitate referrals to             experienced experts and psychologists. By connecting with individuals on a                 personal level, we help encourage resilience and positive coping strategies. Our         goal is to build a community where everyone feels heard and supported.

 

     Activities to raise awareness about mental health especially through social                   media.

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5. WAKHONG Moirang : a safe inclusive listening circle.

 

    "Wakhong" which in English is bamboo grove embodies resilience in its firm roots,      beauty and collective growth. Wakhong is a supportive group space that started        as a men’s support group initiated by The Collective Trust in 2024 in Imphal East        and West, Manipur. Recognizing the need to expand, a parallel space for conflict-      affected individuals (including survivors of gender-based violence, armed                      conflict, and sexual violence). 

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    The aim of WAKHONG Moirang is to provide a safe inclusive listening circle to                share, breathe and grow with a strong undercurrent of visibilising mental health,      de-stigmatising mental health, suicide prevention. The initiative breaks the                  silence, one conversation at a time. It is also real talk, real support, collective              healing. 

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    The Inaugural Session was held at Kaidongpham, Moirang Lamkhai - Manipur on          February 6, 2025. The session brought out unheard stories, emotions and                      expressions that cannot be entirely captured in the English translation. 

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Summary:

….a loud banging noise came from outside. Our instinct sank and one remarked: “It must be a missile attack.” It turned out to be just a door slamming in the wind outside the space. A classic trauma response after all—missile attacks happened around this very place last year..

 

It was our first Wakhong session for Moirang that happened on February 6. 

It was attended by a mixed participant that included queer, transgender, allies, relief camp aid workers and residents from the camp along with our partner and colleagues from The Collective Trust.

 

What got discussed spanned across various topics and themes. Some of the few worth reminding ourselves were:

• Mental health struggles often intersect with poverty, early childhood trauma, gender, economic debt, lack of a safe space for sharing, broken families, failed friendships and how the ongoing armed conflict in the state continues to destroy lives, homes and livelihoods.

• Acknowledging that its crucial to take care of ourselves first before fulfilling our innate desires to help others

• A major reason people hesitate to seek help is the fear of burdening others.

• The deep need for belongingness and a support system in our lives.

 

One participant shared, “I never knew someone would listen to your story like this!”

Another one shared: “ I had always written down about what I go through in my diary….its my second self.”

 

It is not an overstatement to say that people of Moirang found a safe listening circle at WAKHONG Moirang. The session was co-facilitated by Matai Society and The Collective Trust. It is funded by Mariwala Health Initiative through the SPLGBTQ Program 2024-25.