The need for focussing on mental health education in the country was highlighted during the launch of the new degree courses in Applied Psychology at the online event organised on the occasion of World Mental Health Day on 10 October 2020, by the Department of Psychology at Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth (CVV).
Dr. Shashi Tharoor, MP, in his special address, highlighted the need for popularising the graduate and Honours courses in Applied Psychology stating that such practical courses would be of great help in times of pandemic situations.
Launching the month-long Mental Health promotion activities of CVV, the Registrar of the Central University of Kerala, Dr. Radhakrishnan Nair pointed out the need for incorporating life skills training in the curriculum of undergraduate courses so that the courses equip students with practical skills. He congratulated CVV for coming up with the integrated personality development-oriented undergraduate programmes.
The online, mental health promotional activities of CVV in observance of World Mental Health Day was inaugurated by Prof. Shekar Sheshadri, Associate Dean of Department of Behavioural Sciences, NIMHANS, Bengaluru. Prof. Sheshadri stressed the need for bringing out more well-trained mental health professionals, especially to help people in times of pandemics, and stated that there was a dearth of such trained personnel in the country.
Dr. R. Sreevalsa Kumar, Head of CVV’s School of Philosophy, Psychology and Scientific Heritage, the Vice Chancellor of the University Dr. Nagaraj Neerchal, Dean of Faculty, Dr. Gauri Mahulikar, Programme Director, Dr. Satheesh Varma and Assistant Professor Dr. Venkat Raghavan also spoke on the occasion. The online programme was attended by a large number of students, academicians and research scholars from across the country.
