Panjab University Introduces Mental Health Professionals to Support Student Well-being

Panjab University Introduces Mental Health Professionals to Support Student Well-being

Panjab University has hired Mehak Juneja and Amol Kirat Kaur as two mental health counsellors to improve students' wellbeing and assist them in overcoming the challenges of being away from home.

After a four-year gap, the institution has decided to appoint counsellors with the intention of assisting students, particularly those residing in hostels. The university has been aware about the need for private areas where students can speak openly about their concerns because 8,000 or so of its students live in hostels.

Simrit Kahlon addressed the concerns of women, dean, student welfare, and privacy while highlighting the implementation of a discrete appointment method. To ensure that their personal information is kept private, students who want anonymity can make appointments with counsellors using Google Forms.

Panjab University intends to run orientation workshops in hostels in order to create a good atmosphere and remove any stigma attached to obtaining therapy. “Seeking help from counsellors should be treated as an avenue for open communication and support,” said DSW woman Simrit Kahlon.

To ensure support and accessibility for more students, one counsellor will be assigned to the health centre while the other counsellor will visit the hostels.

Report by Himanshi

Graphics by Khushpreet