PrashantNews
Experts have called for enhancing access to mental health services and raising awareness about the crucial role of counseling in resolving psychological issues
At a recent awareness program at Doon University which was organized to promote ‘Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT), experts tried to motivate the students to consider a career in the field of mental health and to play an active role in bringing about a positive change in the society.
Through this program, the ‘Doon Saarthi’ club took a significant step towards openly discussing issues like mental health in its relations with the social acceptance. At the end of the event, all participants were awarded certificates and appreciated for their commitment to mental health.
The awareness programme was organized by Doon University Psychology Club, ‘Saarthi,’ to celebrate ‘National Counseling Psychologist Day’.
In her message, Doon University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Surekha Dangwal, stated that due to a lack of accurate information, common people are often unable to choose a qualified psychotherapist, resulting in them not receiving the full benefits of psychotherapy. It is important to verify the educational qualifications of any psychotherapist before choosing one and to ensure that they have been working as a counseling psychologist for a significant period.
Head of the Psychology Department, Dr. Rajesh Bhatt, stated that there is a continuous need to enhance one’s skills through knowledge and training in the field of psychological counseling. If a psychologist is educationally qualified but does not practice counseling, their skills may diminish. Dr. Bhatt suggested that before choosing any psychologist, it is important to match your psychological issue with the psychologist’s specialization. For instance, if you are struggling with relationship problems and your counselor is not specialized in relationships, the counseling may not be as beneficial. He emphasized the need to raise public awareness about the importance of trained and specialized professionals in mental health care. Dr. Bhatt highlighted the need for improvements in current practices to increase the credibility and effectiveness of psychological counselors and therapists. The role of counseling psychologists is crucial in solving mental health issues.
During the program, various students from the psychology department gave insightful presentations on topics related to counseling and therapy. Anjali, a first-year B.Sc. Psychology Honors student, started the session with a detailed presentation on different types of psychotherapies. Following this, Dhruv, a second-year M.A. Psychology student, discussed the basic principles of counseling and various areas related to different types of counseling. First-year student Anadhya explained the concept of IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) and how it acts as a framework for making psychological therapy more accessible to the general public. First-year student Ira shed light on the objectives of IAPT and the feasibility of implementing counseling and therapy programs in India. Jiya, another first-year B.Sc. student, spoke about the effectiveness of IAPT, emphasizing its impact and successful contribution to improving mental health outcomes. Taran (first year) and Shraddha Bisht (second year) discussed the various interventions available under IAPT and how these interventions can be tailored to meet the needs of different individuals. First-year student Samiksha provided an overview of the resources available for counseling at the university, including the ‘Happiness Center,’ a space dedicated to providing free counseling services.
The program concluded with the message that concrete efforts should be made to make mental health services more accessible to all, with the support of well-trained professionals playing a crucial role in this mission. The event was hosted by Aradhya Dhyanani and Shivangi Rana.