WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY
Chandigarh October 11, 2022
The Department of Psychology, Panjab University, Chandigarh-India organized an International Symposium of World Mental; Health Day with the help of national Association of Psychological Science (NAPS) and VIBHA-VANI India.
Prof. S.N Panda, Head, Dept of Psychology, Sikkim University, Gangtok and Dr. N S Thaguna dept of Psychology, Tribhvan University, Kathmandu were the experts invited offline and Mr. Matt Prelstein, from USA and Prof. Mhd Kamal Uddin, Head Dept of Psychology, University of Dhaka-Bangladesh were invited speakers (online)
Dr. Roshan Lal, Chairperson of the department has introduced the experts to the audience and welcomed them and introduced the WHO theme: “Make mental Health and Wellbeing for all a Global Priority” also said that in our country we have various physical fitness center but no Mental Fitness center is available,
Prof. Panda has narrated about the mental status of Indian Population and described that majority of us are completely unaware about the real meaning of depression and it is a big problem especially for elderly population. India is a capital of Depression. Social cohesiveness, and social support is the ultimate solution of an alarming psychological issues faced by us in contemporary level. Across the age and cultural issues, variety of psychological issues are completely ignored .
Dr. N.S. Thaguna shared that like India Nepal is also facing different types of psychological problem and said that we the psychology professional are to come forward to extend psycho-education among the masses. The roots of all psychological disorders are rooted in our society because nuclear family concept is adopted by young generation. There is a need to retrospect and introspect about our inherited life style and to strengthen these among the masses. Social and emotional learning in schools is another component to enhance the mental health among the school children because today’s children are the future of the country.
Mr. Matt highlighted the role of emotional intelligence for mental health and shared that if any one is competent enough to manage his/her emotion, then the mental health will also remain intact. Whenever we failed to manage our emotions then we invite verities of psychological disorders.
So one must have mastery over their emotions, moreover one must learn to live in present moment and learn to SAY to NO is the key to be mentally healthy. .
Finally Prof, H K Chhabra thanked all the experts and students for inculcating and imbibing the lot of information pertaining to strategies for improving mental health. Lot of queries rose by the students to Mr. Matt and asked about cultural variation in term of mental health.
