City Desk
Islamabad :Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) organized an awareness seminar in connection with World Mental Health Day to highlight the importance of mental health, raise awareness about psychological issues and promote positive attitudes towards mental well-being in society.
Addressing the seminar, the speakers emphasized that mental health plays a vital role in determining an individual’s quality of life, academic performance, professional capabilities and social relationships. They stressed that mental well-being should be given the same importance as physical health for building a healthy and balanced society.
The speakers observed that in today’s fast-paced world, individuals are increasingly facing mental stress and psychological challenges due to academic and professional pressures, economic difficulties and growing social expectations. They highlighted the need for greater awareness, understanding and support to address these challenges effectively.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Sawera Mansoor, Professor at Foundation University and a psychologist, underscored the importance of raising awareness about mental health, identifying psychological issues at an early stage and seeking professional assistance whenever required. She said that mental health problems should not be considered a sign of weakness or a source of embarrassment; rather, they should be treated as seriously as other health conditions to ensure timely support and appropriate guidance for affected individuals.
Dr. Sawera Mansoor further explained that adopting a balanced lifestyle, ensuring adequate sleep, consuming a healthy diet, participating in regular physical activities and maintaining positive social relationships with family and friends could contribute significantly to better mental health.
Maria Mustafa Malik and Dr. Sadia Mushtaq, senior faculty members of the Department of Psychology at AIOU highlighted the need for educational institutions to pay special attention to students’ mental health and emotional well-being. She noted that students often experience psychological pressure due to examinations, academic competition, career choices and various personal and social challenges.
They further emphasized that increasing public awareness about mental health and eliminating misconceptions and negative attitudes associated with psychological problems were essential requirements of the present time. She added that educational institutions could play an effective role in this regard by organizing awareness seminars, training sessions, and counselling activities to help students understand and manage mental health challenges.
Maria Mustafa Malik also expressed her gratitude to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Nasir Mahmood for his patronage and support in organizing the seminar.
It is worth mentioning that Allama Iqbal Open University considers students’ mental and emotional well-being, alongside the provision of quality education and the development of balanced and well-rounded personalities, among its key educational priorities.
