ONE-LINER DESCRIPTION STATEMENT
Department of Psychology, Government College Women University Sialkot Celebrated World
Mental Health Day under the theme “Mental Health a Global Priority: From Basics to All’’
on October 28, 2022 in the university auditorium.
EVENT DETAILS
World Mental Health Day is marked every year in October to raise awareness about mental health
around the world and to mobilize efforts to support those experiencing mental health issues. To mark
the occasion the Department of Psychology, GC Women University Sialkot celebrated the day on
October 28, 2022 with zeal and zest. In this regard a series of events focusing on mental health
support and wellbeing were organized.
These events included expert panel discussion, students’ panel discussion, intra-university poster
competition, drama performances and mental health awareness walk. The aim of holding these events
is to encourage conversations, raising awareness and breaking down the stigma surrounding mental
health in the community.
The program commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran. Furthermore, Naat recitation and
Kalam-e-Iqbal was narrated by students of Psychology Department.
The guests of Honour, Prof Dr. Muhammad Afzaal Butt ( Dean faculty of Arts and Social Sciences)
and Ms. Attia Almas Registrar GCWUS congratulated on the occasion and shared their encouraging
and thought provoking remarks.
The students’ panel discussion highlighted and addressed the mental health concerns of the young
Pakistani population and the issues they face at educational institutes as well as at home. The
discussion was moderated by University Student Counselor Ms. Maryum Arifeen. Students from
different universities and colleges of Sialkot including University of Sialkot, University of
Management and Technology, Govt. Murray Graduate College, and Govt Allama Iqbal College, took
part in this panel discussion. Furthermore, the role of parenting was much highlighted in shaping
adult personalities and promoting sound mental health. The panel discussion gave the students an
opportunity to bring forth the concerns they face that affect their mental health.
The students’ panel discussion was followed by a drama performance titled “Dhundh” by the
Department of Fine Arts in which the students demonstrated the importance of mental health and
wellbeing in the community. The drama provided an in-depth look into the effects of mental health
problems on the individual. It emphasized on the importance of support and insight regarding mental
health concerns within the community, which is unfortunately often neglected.
Furthermore, an experts’ panel discussion moderated by Dr Raazia Anjum was organized which
further shed light on mental health, etiological factors leading to mental health problems in the
community and their interventions and management. The panel comprised of professionals from
different areas. The panel experts were the worthy Vice Chancellor GVWUS Prof Dr. Rukhsana
Kausar, Dr. Tanveer Nasr (Former Chief Clinical Psychologist, Mayo Hospital Lahore), Mr. Athar
Chaudhary (Head of Psychology Department, Murray College) and Ms. Hina Noureen (Advocate,
Additional Director Baidarie Foundation). The discussion emphasized on holistic wellbeing and
highlight in their remarks that only through a collective approach we would be able to keep
ahead of the growing mental health issues that we have in prevailing difficult times.
Dr Umara Rauf also shared her views regarding the event and further appreciated the efforts of
all the participants and guests. Lastly, the head of Department Psychology, Dr. Muhammad
Rashid Hafeez, gave vote of thanks and shared his views and encouraging remarks regarding the
event.
Distribution of certificates among the winners of the poster competition was carried out by the
respectable Registrar GCWUS Ms. Attia Almas and Dr. Muhammad Rashid Hafeez (Head of
Psychology Department). Moreover, the worthy Vice Chancellor GVWUS Prof Dr. Rukhsana
Kausar also distributed certificates among the participants of Experts’ panel discussion as a token of
appreciation.
The Celebrations concluded with all of the respected heads, faculty and students participating in
awareness walk within the university.
The worthy Vice Chancellor GVWUS Prof Dr. Rukhsana Kausar, in her address to the media stated
that mental health is indeed for all and it does require collective efforts from all of us at the very
basic level of society. Individuals are thus encouraged to take concrete steps at individual level in
support of their own mental health and to support friends and family who are struggling to make
mental health care a reality for everyone. A collective approach would help keep us ahead of the
growing mental health issues that we have in difficult times particularly in challenging epochs of
flood victims and the individuals who are working with flood victims when these are at forefront
and can overwhelm health systems even more. Moreover, she added that the Government has to
commit to establishing and scaling- up the mental health services and activities in community at
large by providing an opportunity to keep the discussions around all mental health issues so the
stigmatized taboo of mental illness could be stopped.
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