Dr Abrar for taking initiatives to protect students’ mental health

DHAKA, Dec 16 (BSS/APP) : Education Adviser Prof Dr. Chowdhury Rafiq-ul Abrar has called upon the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the universities of the country for taking extensive initiatives to safeguard students’ social and mental health.
He made the call while speaking as chief guest at a view exchange meeting on “Social and Mental Health Protection Project” at a hotel here.
Chaired by UGC Chairman Prof Dr S M A Fayez, UNESCO representative to Bangladesh Susan Vize, UGC members Prof Dr Mohammad Anwar Hossain, Prof Dr Md Saidur Rahman, Prof Dr Masuma Habib and Prof Dr Mohammad Ayub Islam and Additional Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the education ministry Alif Rudaba were present at the function as special guests.
UGC’s Director for the International Cooperation Division Jesmin Parvin delivered the welcome address at the meeting. In his speech, the Education Adviser said the UNESCO-supported social and mental health protection project would help the younger generation to overcome trauma resulting from the July movement.
He emphasized on the need to expand such programmes on a larger scale and to adopt sustainable initiatives in universities across the country. Dr Abrar also noted that close monitoring is required to help the students injured during the July mass uprising recover from trauma, expressing hope that social and mental health protection projects would help reduce the frustration among them.
The adviser also expressed his gratitude to UNESCO for undertaking the Social and Mental Health Protection Project for the welfare of students. UGC Chairman Prof Dr S M A Fayez said that significant social changes had taken place in the country due to the courageous role played by students in the July movement. He added that UGC’s efforts to help injured students to overcome from the sufferings and trauma would continue.
UNESCO Country Representative Susan Vize said the project would play an important role in helping young people overcome various forms of trauma. She called for introducing structural changes in Bangladesh’s universities and urged all stakeholders to work together to protect youth.
Stating that implementation is more challenging than policy formulation in Bangladesh, she pledged continued support for social and mental health protection service activities. At the event, 14 students were awarded prizes for stories and video documentaries on social and mental health protection. Additionally, three books published under the project were unveiled, which will support the mental well-being of university teachers and students.
Vice-chancellors, teachers, students from various universities and officials from the Ministry of Education, UGC and UNESCO were present at the programme. It may be mentioned here that under the Social and Mental Health Protection Project, mental health services have been provided to 10,000 students from 22 public and private universities across the country. Moreover, 20,000 students have been made aware of responsible use of social media. The project was undertaken to improve the mental health of university students in the post–July mass uprising period.