KARACHI, November 08, 2023 – The Department of Psychology of Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET) organized a Free Mental Health Camp on the World Health Organization’s theme for 2023 “Mental health is a universal human right”. In the full day camp different activities took place related to mental health including awareness stalls, psychological assessment, stress free zone, art therapy and counselling services. In the second half of this mental health camp, a seminar on Mental Health was conducted by the renowned psychiatrists and psychologists that was attended by the Registrar Commodore (R) Syed Sarfraz Ali, Deans, Chairperson, HODs including faculty members and students. Speakers highlighted the concerns and challenges about mental health and their remedies.
Speaking on the occasion, well-known psychiatrist and HEC Distinguished National Professor, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Chief Guest Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Afridi said that mental health is a phase in which a person assesses his capacity and potential which helps him play an active and effective role in society. Happiness is associated with positive thinking. There will be no issue if we treat work as worship. You feel the richness of happiness when you help others. We are underusing our mental capacity.
Former Chairperson, Psychology Department of Karachi University, Prof. Dr. Qudsia Tariq said that stress is a normal part of life. Small and petty things scare us. We expect too much from our children, which makes them dull. Improve your social support system. Don’t be a victim of negativity. Every behavior you do is a repercussion of your mental health. If you are good to yourself, you will be good to society.
Sitara e Imtiaz, Founder of Transformation Wellness Clinics and Mental Health Practitioner, Dr. Muhammad Imran Yusuf said that a person learns a lot from humans rather than reading books. Keep smiling, it brings a positive energy within you. Caring for others and sharing things with them brings lasting happiness and peace.
Former Chairperson, Psychology Department of Karachi University, Prof. Dr. Farah Iqbal said that live in the present. Don’t waste time regretting your past. It will reduce your energy, which is limited. Every culture has its own value system. If anxiety persists for a long period, it turns into a disorder. Stress is also necessary in life. It gives you the spark to struggle for betterment and success.
Former Director of Institute of Clinical Psychology, Karachi University, Prof. Dr. Riaz Ahmed said that clinical psychology is much more focused on assessment and psycho-diagnosis than psychotherapy and counseling. We are using here the practices used in Western society according to their specific culture. We have not developed yet a single scale or test to represent our culture to diagnose intellectual disability. Dr. Sana, Dr. Shiba, and Dr. Maryam also expressed their views on this occasion.
Addressing the seminar, Vice Chancellor SSUET, Prof. Dr. Vali Uddin, said that mental health awareness is an important social movement to both improve understanding and increase access to healthcare. Unfortunately, many people do not receive the treatment that they need because of the stigma associated with mental health. Even some of them are unaware of the fact that the treatment is available. Today people are enjoying a luxurious life with rich comfort and facilities available to them, but still, they lack happiness. Man has become a machine in the present era. Tranquility, peace, and contentment have disappeared from our lives in a rat race.
He pointed out that Sir Syed University is endeavoring to take advantage of advanced technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Psychology.
The event was concluded with a vote of thanks by the Dean of the Faculty of Computing & Applied Sciences, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Asif. Later shields were distributed among the guests and organizers while certificates were given to the students.
Earlier, presenting the welcome note, the Chairperson of the Department of Psychology, Sumbal Mujeeb, said that the perception of mental illness as insanity need to be removed from the face of society. Mental problems have increased at an alarming rate and 40% of people in Pakistan are suffering from mental problems among which the youth are in the highest numbers.
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