Interactive Session on Understanding Mental Health Issues Among Young Adults

On April 19, 2023, the Departments of B.Ed. and Psychology of Loreto College, Kolkata organised a webinar on the mental health issues affecting young adults. The resource person for the event was Prof. John Hirdes, Chair of interRAI MH and Professor of Public Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo. Prof. Hirdes deliberated on the topic of discussion through a comprehensive presentation entitled “Performance Measurement Systems for Mental Health in Universities.” He spoke of what needs to be done to increase mental health literacy and what services can be provided to the student population to encourage a supportive environment that can promote better mental health. He observed that one of the most common reasons for students seeking in-patient psychiatric therapy was self-harm, which was closely followed by an inability to care for themselves, fear of harming others, and addiction.

The Okanagan Charter that was signed in response to the major repercussions of poor mental health among students encourages postsecondary schools to integrate health into all aspects of campus culture and to lead health promotion action and collaboration on a local and global scale. Prof. Hirdes demonstrated how institutions and the government were working together to enhance mental health literacy and remove the stigma associated with getting help. He discussed the numerous facets of campus life that may have an impact on students’ mental health; e.g. campus culture, classroom experience, physical surroundings, interactions with supervisors, relationships with peers, transition to university, co-op experience, and housing. He also suggested that campus mental health services may be built to deal with these challenges.

A round of questions and answers followed the presentation. Prof. Hirdes’ responses highlighted the need for the teaching staff, management, and administration of every institution to receive training in mental health literacy so that they can address the concerns of students regarding their mental health. His primary points focused on the need for flexibility and empathy.