GD Goenka University Hosts National School Counsellors Summit on Youth Mental Health

New Delhi, July 16, 2024: GD Goenka University, in collaboration with Fortis Hospital, successfully organised a two-day National Level School Counsellors Summit on “Youth Mental Health and Competitive Examinations.”

Held on July 12 and 13, the summit brought together 120 counsellors from across the country to address the pressing mental health challenges among students preparing for competitive exams. The summit commenced with a warm welcome from Dr.Kim Menezes, Honourable Vice Chancellor, GD Goenka University, followed by an enlightening address by Dr. Amrita Bahl, Chief Education Officer, GD Goenka Group.

”At GD Goenka University, we are committed to offering round the clock support to our students to ensure their overall well-being, including mental health. The Youth Mental Health and Competitive Examinations is a testament to our consistent efforts to foster a supportive environment where students can excel academically and manage stress effectively,” said Dr. Menezes.

Dr Bahl underlined the strategies for counselling students who are reeling under immense competitive exam pressure. She also mentioned the substantial role of school counsellors in recognising students’ problems that can be life-threatening and fostering a conducive environment for students to express their pressures and receive support for mental health issues.

The day 1 of the summit also featured a comprehensive panel discussion on ‘Essential Life Skills- Is There a Hack to Life?’ which was addressed by Ms Nishtha Narula and Dr Mantosh Kumar. The discussion witnessed esteemed panellists delving into the challenges of the digitalised world and the impact of the internet and social media on the mental health of students.

The participants and the speakers also shared their experiences of dealing with kids suffering from ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and the need for its recognition.

During the summit, renowned mental health expert Dr Samir Parikh, Director of Mental Health & Behavioural Sciences, Fortis Hospital, shared his insight on ‘Empathy and Responsibility- from the vantage of a student’. He highlighted that a lack of empathy and social callousness toward mental health issues is the root cause of anxiety and stress and the need to design a curriculum that teaches empathy and social responsibility.

In addition to Dr Parikh‘s thought-provoking address, Ms Mimansa Singh Tanwar‘s ‘Toolkit for Mindfulness and Distress Tolerance’ inspired the participants to become successful school counsellors. She underscored Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and its role in coping with stress and eliminating unsavoury memories of the past.

Another highlight of day 1 of the summit was a lecture by Ms Roshni Sondhi on ‘Building Mastery and Coping Ahead: Skills to Compete’ that uncovered the significance of mindfulness and non-judgemental observation to cope with the pressures of competitive exams.

The second day of the Youth Mental Health and Competitive Examinations Summit was set in motion with a session by Ms Kamna Chhibber, Head of the Mental Health Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences at Fortis National Health Program.

The eminent speaker familiarised the participants about diverse aspects of social psychology during her lecture on “Pressure to Performance-Learning from Social Psychology,” such as the Yerkes-Dodson Law, Self-Fulfilling Prophecy, Social Facilitation, Social Comparison Theory, and Stereotype Threat. The speaker also spoke on self-efficacy as a significant factor for success.

The session was moderated by Ms Divya Jain, Sports Psychologist at Fortis Hospital and Professor (Dr) Anjali Midha Sharan, Dean of the School of Liberal Arts, presented Ms Chhibber with a certificate of appreciation.

The concluding day of the event encompassed extensive dialogues on crucial topics, including “Skill Building for Parents – Insights from Positive Psychology,” by Ms Geetika Kapoor from Ed Essential and Fortis Hospital. In her address, she prioritised happiness and well-being as humanity’s ultimate goal and the role of parenting in the holistic development of students.

Additionally, an address by Dr. Shambhavi Jain and Ms. Anusha Tyagi on the topic “Beyond the Books – Outside the Box Skills for Young Minds,” encouraged the students to think outside the box and foster creativity.

The engaging and transformational summit concluded with a valedictory session and closing remarks by the Dean of SOLA, Dr Anjali Midha Sharan.