Psycho Education is relevant for all: Dr. Thomas

Team Udayavani, Feb 9, 2020, 9:18 AM IST

Mangaluru: SCINTILLA 2020, a National Workshop on Psycho Education organised by the Department of Msc Counselling, School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya was inaugurated here on February 8.

Dr. Thomas Scaria, Former Senior Program Officer at Colombo Plan, Srilanka inaugurated the workshop. In his inaugural address, he stated that the national workshop on Psycho education is an activity-oriented workshop which will not only help us to understand what is psycho education, but also help us to undergo Psycho education ourselves as we realizes the disorders within us.

“There is a feeling that psycho education is for only sick people. Yes, may be. But to a great extent, we are all sick people. We are passing through a very difficult time in the history. Unemployment rate is all time high. The GDP is dangerously low. Poverty condition of India is even worse than some of the African countries. Suicide rates have grown drastically high. Many young people are becoming prey to drugs and alcohol. Depression is widespread. Only we don’t recognize it. That’s why; we all need Psycho Education,” he added.

Further speaking, he stressed on truck load of free Data given by various service providers over a long time have made at least half of the Indian population addicted to mobiles and Social media. As all of us know, prevention is better than cure. But almost all our medical system, Government policies, funding avenues etc have only prioritized provisions for treatment. We have very little resources and people engaged in prevention or early intervention.

“Today, everyone in the society requires some psycho education, psycho-social intervention and counselling. The schools need to integrate elements of psycho-social education along with their hectic curriculum. The Universities should integrate lessons which will teach students to survive, to grow as creative and positive people with ability to cope up with their day to day stressful situations. Our education curriculum needs a drastic amendment, integrating human and social elements into it, not just knowledge and skills towards specialized workmanship,” Dr Thomas opined.

The Principal of the college Dr. Juliet C J, delivering the presidential address, stated that SCINTILLA 2020 will bring in a spark that involves psycho Education whose goal is to better understand and become accustomed to bring with positive mental health conditions. One gains knowledge of one’s own strengths, ability and seeks greater inner capacity through this workshop. Play is the feel for ones imagination and creativity, problem solving abilities and interpersonal relations she added.

Earlier while speaking about the workshop Mrs. Rosa Nimmy Mathew, the organising Secretary of the workshop, pointed that ‘Scintilla’ 2020 will help the young minds to take time to replenish oneself through play, to engage their creative side of the brain and silence their inner editor and also helps them acquire the skills to foster acceptance, to rekindle higher order cognition and enhance interpersonal effectiveness.

Dr. Wilsy Francis, Asst. Professor, MS. Jenifer Carlo, Asst. Professor, Ms. Thani Anwar, Forum President were present during the occasion. Mrs. Emilia Deniz Silveira compered the programme.