Qatar: ICBF Counseling House launches online awareness on mental health

By Jerald D’Souza
Bellevision Media Network

Doha/Qatar, 11 Jul 2020: The Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF) under the patronage of the Indian Embassy has not only been incessantly working in direction of community welfare and support, but also towards developing a strong and well built future for the world through a carefully mould generation. In its effort and vast experience to do so, ICBF realized how it’s important to be physically, fiscally, legally and most importantly psychologically or mentally empowered to face challenges positively even through the toughest of times. Thus was the point of advent of ICBF Counselling House consisting of professionals qualified, experienced and certified along with appropriate administrational support.

 

In light of the current crisis and its extended developments, ICBF Counseling House has initiated open online awareness segments on Mental Health, under the title ’Facing Challenges with Positivity’ with sessions on pertinent subjects every Saturdays through zoom platform. These sessions are addressed by experts from the Counseling House or renowned, qualified persons with expertise in from various walks of life.

 

 

The past three special segments have been presented by Principals of three prominent Indian Schools in Qatar. First session was by Asna Nafees, principal, Delhi Public School on Adapting to Changes During Crisis - Perspectives of a School Leader, wherein she uncoiled the entire situation faced by all schools equally in the current scenario and the solutions that has been adopted by DPS and how other schools could do same or better. The session encompassed the idea of seeing possibilities in difficulties.

 

The second session was by A P Sharma, principal, Birla Public School, on one of the major concerns faced by parents generally and in particular during the times when children and parents are confined to homes. The topic was Parenting during Crisis - Perils, Predicaments and Potentials.

 

The third session could be addressed as a crown issue faced by parents and schools, which needs a great insight, awareness and action considering the growing number of children in the community who are going through this issue, which is learning disorders.

 

From quite a period ICBF and President P N Baburajan has been keenly acting on this ground to find all possible and feasible solutions and fortunately M.P Philip, principal of Bhavan’s Public School with his immense experience in the area addressed the topic Learning Disorders & Optimal Solutions to share in detail the types of learning disorders, it’s impact on parents, school, the children themselves and the stigmatic reaction of the community. He also explained the actions in practice and possible solutions that can be taken with cooperation of all ends including the community at every level.

 

Philip detailed on how the children could be moulded with appropriate care and attention. Also he touched upon the education board’s stance of inclusion by allocation of qualified dedicated staff in the existing school organization structure to assist children with a certain degree of disorders.

 

Philip satisfactorily reverted to the concerns and queries raised by the attendees, who were mostly parents keen to know more. Considering the severity highly relevant and subject most sought after as often the disorders in children were analyzed late, delayed to action or shied away by parents to approach for help, ICBF Counseling House Coordinator and moderator of the Counseling House Awareness sessions, Sameer Moosa called out to the community to pour in every possible support in the direction of having a proper and affordable system to accommodate the children with learning disorders in the community.

 

Many experienced personalities from various parts of the world including, the Past CBSE Board founder member, Abdulla Haji had joined the session from Kerala to share his idea to the effort. The community has welcomed the session and efforts by the ICBF and the Counseling House and requested for more such sessions on matters of significance in future.

 

The sessions was conducted online by ICBF general secretary Avinash Gaikwad.