APPREHENDING MENTAL HEALTH FOR SAFER UNIVERSITY SPACES

"Just like we take care of our physical health, taking care of mental health is equally important." said the psychological counsellor at the University of Hyderabad, Dr Hymavathi Having an experience of twenty-six plus years she has been dealing with University students for the past two years

University students are at high risk of developing mental health problems However, making one's mental health a priority while still in college is imperative as it lays the groundwork for the student's rest of the lives along with helping them make the best use of opportunities available in the university space

A conversation with the expert not only allowed us to get an insight into the students' mental health issues but also that of the University staff

Since Universities allow a free flow of discourse on various issues, mental health is one of them It makes an otherwise tabooed subject an accepted part of a normal human life, making people feel safe to come out and seek help, be it students or staff Moreover, accessibility is another issue which one faces outside the campus Since in Universities, it is usually funded by the government or the Universities themselves it becomes affordable even for those sections of students and staff who otherwise might not have been able to afford it

Talking on the subject, Dr Hymavathi responded by saying that students come to her with various issues which could be mainly categorized into three broad categories: anxiety, relationship problems and post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD) Mostly, the family of the students is unaware of their treatments, however, in extreme cases it becomes important to inform the family members about it

Apart from students, staff such as the security staff or the sanitation workers also visit, and most of their problems are related to family issues This says a lot about receptive attitudes even amongst the lower-rung staff in the university

Dr Hymavathi exclaimed that they do not even need to run awareness drives on the campus anymore as the atmosphere is so positive She emphasized the importance of ventilating Therefore, "one needs to draw a line and see their lives from outside the box", she said