The Center for Student Counseling (CSC) at Dhofar University holds a number of activities in celebration of World Mental Health Day

In conjunction with World Mental Health Day 10/10/2024, which came this year under the title (It is time to prioritize mental health in the workplace), the Student Counseling Center held several events and activities over two days, Wednesday and Thursday, October 9 and 10, 2024.

The first day, 10/9/2024, included competitions and a workshop for academic and non-academic staff entitled “Strategies for achieving mental health in the work environment and overcoming stress” presented by Dr. Ahmed Said Bait Amer, Senior Consultant of Behavioral Medicine at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, who spoke about the definition of stress, how it is formed, and the causes of stress in the work environment. He then touched on the importance of balancing work and personal life and that the individual should not link his external pressures to his work environment, pointing out the importance of applying the correct strategies to achieve mental health and overcome stress, whether at work or in personal life, the most important of which are: efficient time management, setting limits for each job, and effective communication and contact, which would contribute to creating a kind of psychological balance and harmony in the individual. Dr. Ahmed Bait Amer concluded the workshop by presenting many strategies for dealing and adapting to work pressures. The workshop witnessed interaction from the attendees, and concluded by answering questions.

On the second day, 10/10/2024, coinciding with World Mental Health Day, members of the Student Counseling Center distributed motivational cards containing inspiring and motivating phrases to all academic and non-academic staff at the university with the aim of raising morale and spreading motivation and enthusiasm towards work, which was well received and widely praised by everyone, in addition to drawing smiles and joy on the lips and faces of the workers.

As part of the celebration of this occasion, brochures were also distributed to students in the university corridors as a kind of moral and psychological support and as a draw of attention to this occasion and the importance of giving mental health priority in life and work.

In the context of celebrating this day, another lecture was held for students entitled: (Get rid of academic pressures and achieve mental health) presented by Dr. Rahma Tayseer Al-Omari, a clinical psychologist and temporary professor in the Department of Social Sciences at the University of Arab Ben M’hidi in Algeria. Through it, she provided students with a detailed definition of the concept of pressures, academic pressures, the reasons for their formation, and their relationship to mental health. In her lecture, she also pointed out the importance of developing skills and abilities, the role of psychological flexibility, performing tasks on time, and setting priorities in getting rid of academic pressures. She cited many verses, hadiths, and stories that reinforce the concepts, in addition to mentioning the most important ways that help students get rid of these pressures. The lecture concluded by stating that academic life is not without pressures, but the student must manage these pressures consciously. The students and attendees expressed their appreciation and response to the lecture topics. The day also concluded with the center’s psychologists heading to the internal and external student housing and meeting the supervisors. Some motivational phrases were distributed to the students and supervisors.