KIIT Student Counselling Cell organized a virtual session on “Covid, Mental Health and Family Relationships” for the students and staff of KIIT on 23rd October 2021. The talk was delivered by Dr. Manjula O’ Connor, a consultant psychiatrist from Australia. She threw light on dissemination of information on coronavirus, impact of social distancing, identifying and managing negativity and impact of the pandemic on mental health. She also discussed anxiety and panic disorders, emergence of suicidal behaviour and ways to prevent them, and self-help in coping with one’s own problem and helping others.
Welcoming the speaker and participants, Prof. Jyana Ranjan Mohanty, Registrar, KIIT-DU introduced Dr. Manjula as a consultant psychiatrist with special interest in domestic and family violence, and gender related issues in psychiatric illness, anxiety and depressive illness. Initiating the deliberations, Dr. Sucheta Priyabadini, Director, Student Counselling, KIIT-DU said that KIIT has set up a Counselling Cell to deal with the emotional and psychological issues of students. Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS has provided generous humanitarian assistance to the staff and their families affected by the pandemic, she informed, adding that the Counselling Cell has widened its coverage to include parents of students, faculty, staff and their families.
Among others, Prof. Samaresh Mishra, Director, Student Affairs; Prof. A. K. Sar, KSOM; Mr. Sudhir Rath, Director, Hostels; Prof. Anita Pati, Dean, International Programme; Ms. Rajalaxmi Panda, Dy. Director Student Counseling were present. Dr. Lalita Pattnaik, Officer In-charge, PG Council, KIMS summed up the session duly mentioning the efforts of KIMS in handling Covid-19.