Tribune News Network
Doha
Qatar University’s (QU) Student Counselling Centre marked the World Mental Health Day under the theme, ‘It’s Time to Prioritise Mental Health in the Workplace’. The event saw participation from several university officials as well as mental health institutions working in Qatar.
The celebration aimed to raise awareness of mental health issues and highlight the importance of maintaining mental health within the workplace environment. It also sought to mobilise efforts to address the growing challenges in the mental health sector.
A key feature of the event was a panel discussion focused on achieving mental health in the university environment. The panel included prominent mental health experts such as Dr Nawaf Alzyoud, coordinator of graduate studies programmes, and associate professor of special education at the Department of Psychological Sciences at the College of Education at QU; Dr. Abdullah Al-Johi, director of recovery and engagement at Naufar Centre; and Dr Ahmed Al-Etter, a psychiatrist at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). Sawsen Lahmar, a student counsellor at QU’s Student Counselling Centre, moderated the session.
During the discussion, the speakers shed light on several important topics, such as the need for a healthy work environment for employees, strategies to overcome challenges, and the significance of enhancing mental well-being. They emphasised that improving mental well-being is essential for students, as it is one of the primary factors influencing their academic and social behaviour. The speakers also highlighted the role of QU in fostering a healthy environment for all its members. The Student Counselling Centre has played a key role in offering psychological support services to help students cope with mental, behavioural, social, and emotional challenges that could affect their performance.
In a statement, Dr Mohammed Magzoob, director of the Student Counselling Centre at QU, said, “Today we celebrate World Mental Health Day, and this year’s celebration comes from recognising the critical importance of mental health for both the individual and society. We are pleased to have the participation of many internal and external entities involved in the field of mental health.”
Dr Magzoob also mentioned that the event aimed to provide comprehensive services to the university community, enabling them to benefit from a full range of mental health services.
Alongside the celebration, an accompanying exhibition was held with participation from major centres offering mental health services, as well as social and student guidance institutions. Exhibitors included Sidra Medicine, Inclusion and Special Needs Support Centre, HMC, the Student Counselling Centre, QU Health Sector, the Ministry of Social Development (MSDF), Wifaq Family Consulting Centre, Protection and Social Rehabilitation Centre (AMAN), Al-Noor Centre For The Blind, Behavioural Health Care Centre (Daam), The Shafallah Centre, and the Community Policing Department, among others.
This event not only underscored QU’s commitment to mental health but also demonstrated a collaborative effort among various national institutions to enhance mental well-being across all sectors of society.
