Access to Mental Health Support for Staff

Access to Mental Health Support for Staff

Mental health awareness is crucial for university faculty, who navigate the pressures of teaching, research, and student support. Coping strategies like mindfulness, exercise, and time management, alongside open discussions to reduce stigma, and foster resilience and a supportive academic environment. Centurion University supports the mental health needs of its staff by providing free access to counselling, and expert sessions, organising mental wellness workshops, and Bhagwad Gita sessions and fostering an inclusive environment focused on well-being and stress management.

Expert session on Preserving Quality of Life (Introduction to Palliative Care, Concept of Total Pain & From Patient to Person)

A session on “Preserving Quality of Life” by Dr. K V Ganapathy (Clinical Psychologist) was organised on 19th December 2023 by the University to create awareness among the students and staff members regarding the necessity of mental well-being in the current era. Here, are concepts of the role of palliative care in supporting mental, physical, and emotional well-being for those facing life-threatening illnesses. He addressed societal myths, shared examples of the psychological impact on patients and their loved ones, and emphasised the importance of holistic care.

Events organised by The Centurion Yoga Club

The University also has a dedicated Centurion Yoga Club which focuses on the overall well-being of the students and staff. The Yoga Club at Centurion plays an important role in promoting mental well-being for students and staff. Yoga is widely recognised for its holistic benefits, offering physical, mental, and emotional health improvements. As an accessible, inclusive, and stress-reducing activity, yoga can be a powerful tool for managing mental health, reducing anxiety, and enhancing mindfulness. The club organises yoga sessions on a daily basis by certified yoga instructors. The club conducts several workshops for mental health, such as “The Art of Mind Control,” covering essential topics on the nature of the mind, its workings, methods to remove mental impurities and a session on “promoting mindfulness and relaxation.

Weekly Bhagavad Gita sessions held for staff

As part of Centurion University’s Culture and Social Responsibility initiative, the CUTM-IYF Shrimad Bhagavad Geeta Club held a session on October 7, 2023, with guest speaker HG Santosh Das from IYF Bhubaneswar. The session included Vedic mantra chanting, meditation, and an insightful discussion on Sloka 2.66 of the Bhagavad Gita, offering teachings on happiness, emotional balance, and inner soul nurturing. The event ended with a Q&A and Prasadam, fostering unity and spiritual growth. Complementing this, the “Discover Yourself” course, organised by Inspire Youth Forum and Centurion University, guides participants through an eight-session journey of self-discovery, personal development, and goal-setting. This hybrid course, which combines online and in-person sessions, helps participants explore emotional intelligence, career interests, and strategies for achieving lasting happiness, supporting them in gaining clarity on their strengths and personal values.

Paid Mental Health Services at Centurion University

Centurion University is dedicated to fostering a supportive and healthy environment for its students, faculty, and staff. As part of our commitment to mental health and well-being, we are proud to be offering specialised paid mental health services led by Dr. Manas Mahalik, Senior Resident at Jajati Keshari Medical College & Hospital, Jajpur, Odisha at the local Community Diagnostic Center, here on campus at a subsidised price. Dr. Mahalik brings a wealth of experience and expertise in mental health care, providing our university community with access to high-quality counselling and therapeutic support.

The paid mental health services are designed to address a range of psychological needs, from managing stress and anxiety to more specialised care for emotional and behavioural issues. Services offered range from individual counselling sessions where sessions are tailored to help individuals work through personal challenges and develop coping strategies for stress, anxiety, and depression, workshops involving interactive group sessions to discuss and understand mental health topics, such as self-care, resilience, and emotional regulation, promoting collective well-being followed by mental health assessments where comprehensive evaluative assessments are done to identify and address specific mental health needs, providing clarity and direction for effective treatment.

Dr. Mahalik’s sessions are available at convenient times to accommodate the busy schedules of students and staff. Both in-person and virtual sessions are offered via our Telemedicine Kiosk aids to enhance accessibility, making it easy for individuals to reach out for support when needed.

By prioritising mental health, Centurion University is committed to enhancing the quality of life and academic success of our students and staff. Dr. Mahalik’s paid mental health services provide a valuable opportunity to foster resilience, manage stress, and develop a healthier approach to life’s challenges.