Counselling centre at Zayed University a boost for students’ well-being

ABU DHABI // Zayed University students welcomed the opening of a new counselling centre as a major boost to the mental health and well-being of fellow students who are struggling to cope.

The recently opened centre at the Abu Dhabi campus will help “in resolving students’ psychological and social issues” said Safeya Khanji.

As a psychology student, she recognises how such services, which are standard at institutions across the world, can help students to overcome problems such as stress, time management, depression and anxiety.

The 22-year-old hoped staff would help students to strike a “balance between school and social responsibility” while also reducing the stigma associated with seeking help.

“I think that the stereotyping around visiting a counsellor has improved,” she said.

“People in the UAE, and especially university students, have more awareness about its benefits and that counselling is not for ‘crazy people’, rather that it is a professional way of reaching potential and overcoming obstacles.”

The centre’s director, Dr Khuldir Bhati, said its opening was a “reflection of changing times”.

“One can see in general in the UAE more [counselling] services being offered, which shows times are changing,” Dr Bhati said. “Counselling is being seen as a strength, a service you can utilise.”

He said he hoped people would increasingly see that it is healthy to talk and explore, before issues develop into something bigger.

In other countries, said Dr ­Bhati, a counselling centre is something students and their families assume a university will have, so for Zayed University, which was set up in 1998, it has been a long time coming.

“It’s seen as being as important as the health centre,” said Dr Bhati.

Fatima Al Darmaki, assistant provost for student affairs, said a referral system would help staff to deal with more serious matters.

“Students needing special ­services such as medication, or family and social consultation, may be referred to either the American Centre for Psychiatry and Neurology – to the Social Support Centre – or to the Family Development Foundation Shaawer (consult) Programme,” she said.

“Our data tells us that students do much better academically as a result of receiving counselling.”

The centre will provide one-to-one and group counselling, psychological assessment, preventive programmes and outreach days. Three counsellors will be based at the Abu Dhabi campus with two staff and an outreach officer in Dubai.

“The centre is important for the students because it provides them with emotional support and professional help in a confidential and objective, non-judgemental way,” Ms Al Darmaki said.

Dalia Jarara, a student counsellor at Abu Dhabi University, said having access to a centre instilled in students a sense of normality about seeking help, reducing the cultural stigma that is common in the region.

“It’s just like going to the health centre, only instead of getting a physical check, you’re looking at mental health.

“It’s teaching students that it’s OK to ask for help.”

mswan@thenational.ae