Counselling key to heal distressed minds

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

Counselling is among the key factors to bring normalcy among the war-distressed people, Social Services Minister Felix Perera said Tuesday.

The Minister said so participating at a ceremony to award Diploma in Child Protection for 50 officers.

The diploma course is conducted jointly by the Social Services Ministry and Child Development and Women's Affairs Ministry.

The course is conducted to enhance human resources for social development through the preparation of competent manpower in social work.

The course gathers knowledge and technologies for social work practices. The diploma holders will be provided specialized services for social welfare and social development.

The Minister said that terrorism has damaged the mentality of the people especially in the North and the East. Professional counselling is vital and essential to develop the mentality of distressed people. It has been revealed that there are over 40,000 widows in the North and the East.

The Diploma holders will have to do a valuable service as counsellors.

Child Development and Women's Affairs Minister Tissa Karalliyadda said on the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Child Development and Women's Affairs Ministry has implemented several programs to empower women.