The Centre for Global Network & Initiatives (CGNI) of St. Xavier’s University Kolkata (SXUK) in collaboration with PSYCHeDGES; a Kolkata-based educational consultant conducted a 7-day Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on Mental Health Awareness for the faculty members of the university.

Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, Vice-Chancellor of SXUK inaugurated the FDP on December 5, 2024 amid the presence of Prof. Ashis Mitra, Registrar, Deans of respective faculties, schools, participants and the resource persons Dr. Gargi Dasgupta, Consultant Psychologist and CEO, PSYCHeDGES; Ms. Priya Ray Chaudhuri, Counsellor.

Father Felix Raj said, “It is necessary to focus on the importance of mental health of students as well as of faculty members and sensitisation towards mental health issues in the educational institutions of today.”

The FDP consisted of a total of 10 sessions spread over the 7 days, some days having sessions in both the halves and some days consisting of one session in either of the halves. The main focus of the FDP dealt with the various mental health issues that might crop up in the minds of modern-day adolescents and young adults.

The teachers, being the mentors of the young individuals, were given guidance on how to become first responders to any scenario, either when the students approach them directly seeking help or the teachers themselves notice a student behaving in an unusual manner and take the initiative to enquire about the mental health of the said student.

The various sessions of the FDP included topics like “Addiction”, “Carrer Anxiety & Academic Performance”, “Romantic Relationships”, “Peer Pressure & Bullying”, etc. The workshop ended on December 17, 2024 with the distribution of certificates to the participants.

Dr. Manali Bhattacharya
Prof-In-Charge, CGNI.