IAF, Nimhans ink pact to help air warriors

BENGALURU: The ministry of defence (MoD) on Wednesday said that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (Nimhans) on Tuesday.“Nimhans being a multidisciplinary institute, having vast experience and expertise in academic pursuits, research, mental health training and patient care has instituted the counselling and mentoring programme for IAF,” a statement issued here read, adding that the MoU was signed at the IAF training command headquarters in Bengaluru. Air marshal Saju Balakrishnan, senior air staff officer, IAF training command headquarters and Dr Pratima Murthy, director, Nimhans, signed the MoU for the conduct of workshops on counselling and mentoring for the air warriors of the IAF involved in performing the instructional duties at various training institutes and establishments.“This six-day workshop to be conducted in various batches would cover topics such as adolescent development, stress management and positive coping, handling mental health crises and its management by the officers and instructors. The programme is designed to teach the instructors posted to various training establishments and institutions of the IAF to effectively use counselling and mentoring skills,” the statement read.This, the MoD said, would help trainees to overcome the stress of military training imparted during the ab initio (beginning) stage and to face the challenges of life in future, in a better way.