On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, Central University of Kashmir (CUK) in collaboration with ‘The Inner Call’, organized a one-day awareness programme on ‘Young People and Mental Health In a Changing World’ at the designated Tulmulla campus of the varsity here on Wednesday.
Registrar, Prof. Fayaz A Nika, Counsellor and Psychiatrist, Dr. Arif Maghribi Khan, transformational coach, Vandana Arora, Deputy Directorate of Students Welfare, Dr. Syed Zahoor Geelani, Coordinator, Department of IT, Er Zahoor Ahmad, Secretary Inner Call Affan Yesvi, faculty members, students of the departments of Information Technology and Physical Education also attended the programme.
Registrar, Prof Fayaz A Nika in his presidential address asked the students how to tackle stress through productive means.
He urged the students to consciously inculcate a ‘be positive-stay positive’ attitude.
Prof. Nika said that good mental health is a key component for living a dynamic life. He said the university has always encouraged its students to express freely.
Prof. Nika spoke to students about maintaining the optimum work-life balance. He said the curriculum of the university was designed in such a way that students do not feel stressed.
Dr. Arif Maghribi Khan, gave a detailed overview of various mental health issues in Kashmir, especially those related to youth. He spoke to the students about simple and easy steps to understand the classification of psychiatric diseases, and the scenario in Kashmir. He also made them aware of the myths regarding psychiatry.
A counselling session and group exercise was also organized for the students, a varsity handout said.
Vandana Arora, transformational coach, engaged the participants at the awareness workshop in various exercises on mental health. She held a session on meditation.
The students later engaged in an interactive question answer session.
Deputy Directorate of Students Welfare, Dr. Syed Zahoor Geelani and Coordinator, Department of IT, Er Zahoor Ahmad underscored the need to focus on mental health problems faced by the youth of Valley.
Addressing the participants, Secretary The Inner Call Affan Yesvi, said it was a consistent effort on the part of his organization to raise awareness regarding the major issues faced by the youth.