The number of mental health promotion groups in universities during the current year 2022 AD reached approximately 28 groups in 28 public and private universities, as well as 28 guidance centers, units and management under the name of Student Care Centers.
The National Center for Mental Health Promotion, which launched the initiative to promote mental health in universities in 2017, is aiming for 7 universities, to cover all universities in the Kingdom in the future, which currently has 28 universities.
This was stated by the official responsible for the initiative to promote mental health in universities, senior psychologist Basma Helmy, for “Makkah”.
Helmy explained that to ensure unification of efforts and standardization in these centers, the center has published the guidance guide for the Student Care Center in Saudi universities and the National Center aims to make mental health promotion in universities an approved indicator. among the indicators of academic accreditation.
He pointed out that the center has launched an initiative to promote mental health in public and private universities within a grassroots organization and a clear framework, as it is one of the educational institutions that help shape awareness, the behavior and personality of male and female students, and includes a large youth segment with different characteristics, which helps to understand mental health problems in the university environment.
Improve the mental health of the college student through 6 goals, according to Helmy:
- Building the balanced personality of the university student through enriching programs and activities and developing the scientific, creative and research aspects.
- Promote mental health concepts through awareness programs and primary mental health courses.
- Activate student assistance centers, which are called university counseling centers, providing the student with academic adaptation, coping with stress and problem solving skills.
- Provide community initiatives in the field of mental health.
- Participation in scientific and research activities related to mental health through conferences, scientific research and the like.
- Determine the risk factors that can threaten the mental health of the college student, as well as the most vulnerable groups, and how to address them.
–
