LAHORE, (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News – June 24, 2022): The newly established Women’s Development Center (WDC) at Government College University (GCU) Lahore has conducted mental health workshops for female students from different universities.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr Asghar Zaidi, on Friday presided over the closing ceremony of the week-long workshops, which were attended by eminent psychologists, who called on students not to hesitate to seek professional or medical help s ‘they suffer from any kind of trauma, anxiety or stress.

Addressing a workshop on stress management, Dr Mahwesh Arooj Naz, Head of Clinical Psychology Unit at GCU, explained that stress is not just a mental state but also causes physical symptoms and that it sometimes makes people prone to permanent illnesses. She said it is completely normal to feel both negative and positive emotions, but it is necessary to view stressful situations not as a threat but as an opportunity to achieve a better outcome. She also taught different techniques to avoid stress, including meditation, deep breathing and mindfulness.

GCU campus counselor Dr. Ayesha Majeed said dealing with intense emotions such as fear, anxiety, anger, etc.

, it is recommended to calm down by looking for a way out of the situation, taking time outs and breathing slowly to find a comfortable state. She advised catharsis through a written vent, talking to close and trusted people and having a positive dialogue with yourself and changing negative thoughts by hammering them with positive thoughts.

Dr. Saadia Dildaar, assistant professor of clinical psychology, spoke to the students about dealing with trauma. Dr. Rabia Iftikhar, another assistant professor, taught anger management techniques and exercises.

Prof. VC Asghar Zaidi said mental health issues are real, so young boys and girls should not hesitate to tell their parents about these issues and seek professional help. He added that these issues could also have long-term consequences for students, affecting their academic performance and overall health. He appreciated the Women’s Development Center and the GCU Clinical Psychology Unit for jointly organizing a workshop for female students on their mental health issues.