Mental well-being is a crucial aspect of our health and productivity as university students. ‘Friend-In-Need’ is a project organized by the Rotaract Club, FOM UOC in collaboration with the Department of Psychiatry, FOM UOC with the aim of uplifting the mental well-being and psychological awareness among undergraduate students of the faculty.
As the first phase of the project, an introductory session which was open for all undergraduates in FOM UOC was held on 21st March 2024 at UCFM Tower premises. The session was conducted by Dr. Chathurie Suraweera and Dr. Anula Rathnayake from Department of Psychiatry on the topic ‘mental health : what is normal and what is abnormal’. The aim of this session was to provide an insight about mental well-being and the ‘Friend-In-Need’ initiative. Students who showed an interest were recruited to take part in the ‘Friend-In-Need’ workshop series proper.
As the second phase of the project, ‘Friend-In-Need’ workshop series proper was planned targeting the students who showed an interest in psychology. The aim of this workshop series was to empower students with basic psychological skills so that they could use them to uplift their mental well-being as well as to help their friends who need psychological assistance. Thus, it comprised of four sessions and those sessions were held online except the last session which was held in an onsite – online hybrid manner. The first session which was on ‘basic communication and counseling skills’ was conducted by Dr. Anula Rathnayake on 25th March 2024. The second session which was on ‘common psychiatric disorders’ was conducted by Dr. Chathurie Suraweera on 26th March 2024. The third session which was on ‘problem solving techniques’ was conducted by Dr. Anula Rathnayake on 27th March 2024. The final session which was role plays for dealing with scenarios was done by Dr. Chathurie Suraweera on 28th March 2024. Altogether there was a participation of more than 50 students throughout the workshop series and all the participants were awarded with a certificate.
The recordings of the sessions were uploaded and shared via the YouTube channel of Rotaract Club FOM UOC. To view the recordings of the workshop series please clicking below
As the third phase of the project, ‘Friend-In-Need Volunteers’ student task force was recruited from those who were trained through the ‘Friend-In-Need’ workshop series proper. The aim of this student task force is to contribute themselves in collectively uplifting the mental well-being of the students of the faculty by becoming true friends-in-need. Moreover, they were empowered to early identify students who might need psychological support and direct them to the student counsellor services of the faculty before things get worsen, thus bridging the gap between student and student counsellor services.
As the final phase of the project, an online mental health support platform named ‘Am I OK?’ was developed under the guidance of Department of Psychiatry FOM UOC. It is an online self assessment tool which any student can use to assess their mental state anonymously at anytime they wish. If it detects a studens who are at risk, it directs them to seek psychological support from student counseling services offered by University Professorial Psychiatry Unit (NHSL ward 59). A QR code which provide access to this was displayed in the common areas of the faculty such as canteen, common room, library and study areas.
