A one day workshop on“Mental Health and Coping Skills” was organized by the Department of Educational Studies, Central University of Jammu at Government Higher Secondary School, Smailpur here today. This activity done under the community outreach initiative of the Central University of Jammu. Around 150 participants participated in the interactive one day workshop which consisted of the school students and the teachers of the school. The goal of this workshop was to make adolescent students of the school and teachers aware of the mental health related issues and the practical strategies to handle and cope.

The event was formally inaugurated with the key note address by the Academic Coordinator of the Central University of Jammu Prof. Lokesh K. Verma who is also the Dean and Head of the Department of Educational Studies. He touched the main issues of mental health and related problems and the lack of counselling facilities in schools in order to develop a right kind of behaviour among the youth generation. He also assured that such initiatives will be continued in future with an emphasis on building a synergetic relationship between the Central University of Jammu and the other educational institution in the close vicinity for the betterment of the community and the society. The principal of the Higher Secondary School Smailpur Sh. Prakash Lal Thappa provided an assurance for the same and also spelled his expectations for support from the Central University of Jammu for the development of the school and society.

Earlier the programme started with an introduction of the workshop by Dr Ritu Bakshi where she briefed the participants about purpose of holding various technical sessions. Dr J.N. Baliya in his welcome address welcomed the guests and the participants.

Keeping in view the objectives of the workshop the six sessions were organized on Developing right attitude, Coping strategies, career counselling, Developing healthy habits/Adolescent counselling, Adaptability to environmental change and sense of humour and maturity. These sessions were entirely delivered by the M.Ed. students and the scholars of the Department of Educational Studies under the guidance and support of the faculty members of the Department of Educational Studies. The technical sessions were effectively coordinated by Dr. Aman, Dr Kiran, Dr Parmod and Mr Rakesh alongwith the scholars of the Department of Educational Studies Central University of Jammu