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
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
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The design
The protective shell is covered in solar panels to make use of light and produce energy. This will drastically reduce energy loss.
More than 80 per cent of the energy consumed by the French pavilion will be produced by the sun.
The architecture will control light sources to provide a highly insulated and airtight building.
The forecourt is protected from the sun and the plants will refresh the inner spaces.
A micro water treatment plant will recycle used water to supply the irrigation for the plants and to flush the toilets. This will reduce the pavilion’s need for fresh water by 30 per cent.
Energy-saving equipment will be used for all lighting and projections.
Beyond its use for the expo, the pavilion will be easy to dismantle and reuse the material.
Some elements of the metal frame can be prefabricated in a factory.
From architects to sound technicians and construction companies, a group of experts from 10 companies have created the pavilion.
Work will begin in May; the first stone will be laid in Dubai in the second quarter of 2019.
Construction of the pavilion will take 17 months from May 2019 to September 2020.
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The%20specs
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THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
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Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
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Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
Where to buy
Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com
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The biog
DOB: March 13, 1987
Place of birth: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia but lived in Virginia in the US and raised in Lebanon
School: ACS in Lebanon
University: BSA in Graphic Design at the American University of Beirut
MSA in Design Entrepreneurship at the School of Visual Arts in New York City
Nationality: Lebanese
Status: Single
Favourite thing to do: I really enjoy cycling, I was a participant in Cycling for Gaza for the second time this year
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