Mental health week begins at GCU

LAHORE

Government College University (GCU) Monday started observing Mental Health Week to highlight and deliberate upon issues related to human thinking, behaviours and social well-being. 

The week long celebrations organised by the GCU’s Dr Ajmal Society Physiological Society and Psychology Department includes a three-day international conference on Health Psychology, besides an awareness walk, pre-conference workshop, invited lectures and inter-universities performing arts competition. On Monday, the celebrations began with a poster exhibition inaugurated by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah. “Self-care isn't selfish: it's self-preservation,” reads one of the many posters put on display the psychology students from twelve different educational institutions.

The posters highlighted the key values that helped people in avoiding stress, anger and drug addictions, and staying positive in negative environments. In her inaugural address, GCU Psychology Department Chairperson Dr Syeda Shahida Batool said they all faced professional stress, social and interpersonal constraints and security challenges, and above all they were fighting the war against terrorism and this all had a very negative impact on their mental health. “So, activities this year mental health week intends to carry out are very effective as one-way or other to safeguard our mental health by undertaking our mind and social needs and indulging us in relaxing healthy activities,” she said.

Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah said besides academic and professional debate, the mental health week provided a platform to the students of GCU and other universities to show their innovation and creativity, which was somehow discouraged in our formal education system. Later, the VC gave away prizes and certificates to the winners of the poster competition. 

Degrees: The first-ever degree awarding ceremony of recently graduated students of Punjab University Department of History and Pakistan Studies was held on Monday in which two PhD degrees and 110 degrees of M Phil History, MA History and MA Pakistan Studies were distributed among students. PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zafar Mueen Nasir awarded the degrees while Dean Faculty of Engineering and Technology Prof Dr Taqi Zahid Butt, Registrar Dr Muhammad Khalid Khan, Controller of Examinations Prof Dr Shahid Munir, Dean Faculty of Arts and Humanities and chairman of the department Prof Dr Iqbal Chawla, senior faculty members and a large number of students and their parents were present.