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Updatescollectivetrust2026-06-16T09:09:22+05:30
TCT Annual report 2025

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We received a text in our group by one of our trainees who's undergoing the Psychological First Aid course and it is a sobering reminder of why this work matters. Having found himself responding to two separate suicide-related cases within his own extended circles, he reflected on something many of us have witnessed: that behind every crisis are often missed opportunities for connection, listening, support, and timely intervention. The need is no longer imagined but it is already here, in our homes, schools, communities, and workplaces. This is precisely why The Collective Trust has embarked on training Barefoot Counsellors: not to create mental health professionals, but to strengthen community capacity so that more people know how to recognize distress, respond with empathy, and connect individuals to appropriate support before a crisis escalates. At the same time, experiences like these remind us that suicide prevention and mental wellbeing cannot be the responsibility of any single organization or profession. What is needed is a broader ecosystem of care involving schools, youth groups, healthcare providers, government agencies, civil society organizations, faith communities, families, and trained community responders working together. The Collective Trust hopes to contribute to this larger movement by building a network of barefoot counsellors, creating more safe spaces for conversations, strengthening referral pathways, and advocating for mental health literacy across communities. If there is one lesson emerging from this journey, it is that we cannot wait until people reach the edge before we respond; we must create communities where support is visible, accessible, and present long before a crisis becomes an emergency. *Reach out to us if you are in distress or you come across anyone in distress* Suicide Prevention Barefoot Counselor Psychological First Aids Mental Health Manipur
Wari Wayokon began its first community story circle, facilitated by the wonderful facilitators trained by The Collective Trust. Using dolls as a storytelling medium, we explored memories, experiences, and emotions through a tool that felt deeply familiar. For many of us, the dolls carried echoes of childhood, of play, imagination, and the stories we once told without fear. It was a powerful reminder that storytelling doesn’t always begin with words. Sometimes, it begins with the objects that connect us to who we were and who we are becoming. #WariWayokon #StoryCircle #CommunityHealing #CollectiveTrust #NarrativePractice Storytelling MentalHealth CommunityEngagement
Learning through role plays. We positioned ourselves as people who could become- the one who listens, the one who is seeking help, the one who finds it difficult to admit, the one who chickened out leaving someone vulnerable, the friend who is desperate to fix, the one who wants to settle an issue... And we tried to improvise. Psychological First Aid role plays mental wellbeing
"We are not Batman." On day 3 of the PFA course, we stepped into the complex and often uncomfortable terrain of Ethics. Rather than approaching it as a set of rigid rules, we explored ethics through lived situations and everyday dilemmas. We are not here to save everyone, and we will not always have the right answers. There will be situations that are bigger than us, more complex than we anticipated, and beyond what we can hold alone. But if there is one commitment we can make as Barefoot Counselors, it is that we will try our best not to cause further harm.  Through anecdotes, situations, and experiences we have come across, we revisited moments where we had responded in critical situations, reflected on what informed our choices then, and explored how we might respond differently, and perhaps more helpfully, if faced with similar circumstances again. Themes of boundaries, confidentiality, consent, responsibility and safety were discussed as guardrails that will help us help others effectively. Skills and shortcomings, developing the humility to know our limits, the courage to seek support when needed, and the wisdom to walk alongside others with care, respect, and integrity are what will drive the whole course of PFA throughout.  And what's the best part you ask-We all learn together!  Psychological First Aid First Responders Crisis Psychosocial Support Manipur Mental Health
Delving into Psychological First Aid (PFA), one lesson stood out: how difficult it can be to simply listen. Many of us are conditioned to respond, advise, fix, direct, or offer solutions. In our eagerness to help, we often miss the most important part, which is being fully present with the person in front of us. Listening without rushing to intervene can feel uncomfortable. It may seem like we are doing very little. Yet, for someone in distress, being heard without judgment, pressure, or interruption can be profoundly healing. Sometimes, the most helpful thing we can offer is not an answer, a strategy, or a direction. It is our presence, our attention, and our willingness to sit with another person’s experience. In Psychological First Aid, we learn that support does not always begin with action. Often, it begins with listening.
The Collective Trust is pleased to start the Basic Course on Psychological First Aid, 2nd batch. Firsthand experience to observe and participate in our Wakhong and reflections started the course which was followed by the technical nuances of mental wellbeing. We are providing a mix of online and in person classes and a lot will cover what grad schools have missed out on telling us ☺️ We also encourage people who are not from the psychology background academically because we all know emotional conditions and recognising it and responding effectively are something all of us should be equipped with. And for the psychology students, this course will be equivalent to internship programmes that some of you are mandated to attend from your respective unis and colleges. *DM us for queries.
"Understanding our parents, understanding ourselves, and understanding the children we care for are not separate journeys. They are deeply intertwined." Today, at Wakhong, we gathered around the theme "Parenting and Being Parented." And as we listened to one another's stories, we found ourselves returning again to our relationships with our own parents. There seems to be a particular kind of focus that emerges when we become parents ourselves or when we begin to think seriously about showing up for the children in our lives- as siblings or guardians. We revisited old memories, old hurts, old questions. We become determined not to repeat cycles that have caused pain.  Yet, in the midst of that determination, many of us also acknowledged how parenting is one of the most complex terrains a person can traverse and how often we get clueless searching for what a different path might look like. We shared about absence- about parents we have lost. About grief that does not move according to timelines or expectations.  In the safety of the circle, participants found themselves speaking about grief that had long been pushed aside.  We also discovered insights about ourselves. We noticed patterns we had inherited and patterns we wished to change. We saw how spaces like this one hold the power to allow ourselves to open up. Not to answer or advice but to listen deeply and accompany one another through some of life's most complex and tender experiences. Thank you everyone who shared their stories, their questions, their memories, and their silences. We carry them with us.
"Safe spaces for men" may sound unusual to some, but men need spaces for vulnerability, connection, and emotional wellbeing too. Many men grow up learning to stay strong, stay silent, and carry their struggles alone. Conversations around stress, grief, loneliness, relationships, and mental health often go unspoken. That is why this Men's Mental Health bike ride was meaningful. It was more than a ride. It was a shared journey where movement, camaraderie, and conversation created space for men to connect, reflect, and be heard without judgment. A sincere thank you to Honda BigWing Manipur for supporting this initiative and helping create opportunities for openness, connection, and wellbeing among men. Sometimes a safe space is not a room or a formal gathering. Sometimes it looks like a road ahead, a group riding together, and the freedom to show up as you are. Looking forward to more!
"Our world in Manipur can seem fragmented into many smaller ones, but there is a heart-light: a deeper belief in our shared humanity across ethnic lines..." - @hhechin In our pursuit of rebuilding communities and bringing dialogues of mental wellbeing across geography, we had been working together with @cwg.manipur for quite some time. And it is all the more important now to talk about it so that we can show this example of professional commitment and integrity especially in hard times. We are happy to share our joint partnership to make mental health services accessible and conversations easier as they bring out their annual report that reflects the work across child rights, gender justice and psychosocial wellbeing. We have come a long way despite difficult circumstances and crises. And while doing so, we may be probably taking up our share of collective healing together as well. *Please find their annual report in their bio.
This is a significant win for all of us in creating safer spaces for conversations around mental health. Many men continue to suffer in silence due to stigma and the lack of open dialogue, but it does not have to remain this way. Every effort toward awareness, understanding, and acceptance is a step toward building a healthier and more supportive community for everyone. Way to go, Big Wing Manipur for continuing this revolution around Men’s Mental Health. We are excited to be there and look forward to seeing everyone and if possible maybe have a hearty chat around what we would otherwise not do. This event also aligns with our Wakhong- which originally started as a men’s support group and is so significant as we will also be hosting a Wakhong session on the same day at our space. We will be happy to have everyone who’s interested in the circle we create every month.
Wakhong began as a small support circle for men, a space where stories, vulnerabilities, reflections and conversations could exist without judgment. Over time, what started as a men’s support group slowly grew into something much larger. After a year of meaningful gatherings and shared experiences, Wakhong opened its doors to everyone, becoming a collective space for listening, healing, dialogue, and community. The response and participation since its inception have reminded us how deeply people long for spaces where they can simply be heard. As Wakhong continues to grow, we are also beginning to ask ourselves an important question. How do we make sure children are not left behind in these conversations around emotional expression and more. Under our Wari Wayokon Project, we are now exploring the idea of a Mini Wakhong for children, envisioned as a storytelling-based space that we hope to begin sometime in June.  Before we take that step, we want to first listen to the people who nurture, raise, support, and care for children every day. This is why, on this last Sunday, the 31st May,the usual time at 2pm, we are opening Wakhong for parents and caregivers. And when we say parents, we mean it in the widest and warmest sense possible. Not only those who have biologically given birth to children, but also guardians, caregivers, teachers, and anyone who holds space for children with care and responsibility. This gathering will be a space to reflect on the journeys of parenting and caregiving. More than anything, we want to listen. As Wakhong slowly expands, we hope to also create room for children, their voices, imaginations, and stories, and this gathering will be one of the first steps toward that journey. We invite you to join us. DM for your slot.
2026- Psychological First Aid Course by The Collective Trust After the overwhelming response, love, and meaningful learning experiences from our previous batch and with many requests and messages asking us to continue, we are happy to announce that we will soon be starting a new batch of the Psychological First Aid – Barefoot Counselling Course from June 1st 2026 🤍 This course is rooted in the belief that mental health support should reach communities, homes, schools, and everyday spaces and not just clinics. Whether you are a student, psychology intern, professional, or simply someone who wants to support others better, emotionally, this course is for you. Thank you to everyone who believed in this initiative and encouraged us to continue. The response reminded us how deeply people want to learn how to care for one another. [Edit: We forgot to mention this will cater to people in Imphal only since we will be taking in person classes too.] Find our Google link in the bio. Do DM us for details #PsychologicalFirstAid #BarefootCounselling #CommunityMentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #PsychologyIntern HealingCommunities PeerSupport MentalHealthMatters
And it’s a wrap. Across the three days, participants explored various approaches to facilitating storytelling in ways that are safe, ethically grounded, culturally responsive, and therapeutically contained. Emphasis was placed on creating psychologically safe spaces, understanding the role of active listening and witnessing, maintaining boundaries, and recognising the impact of narrative sharing on individual and collective wellbeing. The workshop also examined how storytelling can support resilience building, social connection, dialogue, and restoration of agency within communities affected by adversity and sociopolitical distress. A key objective of the workshop was community capacity building. The training was designed to equip community leaders and facilitators with foundational skills and frameworks to adapt and carry forward story circle practices within their own communities, particularly among populations that may benefit from accessible, culturally rooted psychosocial support interventions. The learnings and processes developed during these three days hold significant relevance for strengthening community-led healing practices and fostering spaces of collective care, reflection, and recovery.
Day-2 of the Story Circle Workshop as part of our Wari Wayokon Project. What we often consider familiar terrain, listening, moderating and facilitating group sessions, listening circles, and story circles, became today a space for deeper inquiry and reflection. We attempted to unpack the subtleties, textures, and emotional architecture of these practices, paying closer attention to the nuances and intricacies that shape meaningful spaces. More importantly, we really slowed down to understand what it means to actively listen to people’s sharings and how we respond with care, presence, and intention rather than habit. Of course it was intense, demanding, and an emotionally layered process, one that required patience, presence, and vulnerability in equal measure. Yet despite the exhaustion that accompanied the day, every participant showed up with remarkable sincerity and commitment, offering not just participation, but pieces of themselves. Through personal accounts and lived experiences, many of which touched upon stories they do not easily share with the world, the space evolved into one of trust, courage, and profound human connection. The looks we gave each other were more like: "Waabide..." 🙌
The Collective Trust kicked off the first day of the 3-day Story Circle Workshop under the Wari Wayokon Project. Snippets from the workshop: “Eidi wari se kanamta lithokte, kanmata tabiroi khanbagi. Sidadi tabinaba ngakta oibagi adum likhre...” “I never share my stories because I feel nobody would listen. But here, I shared my story because everyone was there to listen...” “Sigi laidi sabasina eingonda nunghaitana lakpafao kaothokhalli...” “Making this doll helped me forget what had been weighing on me…” “Mitop na hallakani khandana mateng pangthorakpa se helle khalle. Karigumba kaanda eikhoisu metop ama oiba change mateng toukhibada halakani khandana…” “We have to become strangers to be kind” We are excited to further learning and engagement in the coming 2 days of the workshop.
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