Virtual Counseling Session on ‘Mental & Physical Well-Being’

Positive mental health results in sound body and outlook. Besides normal daily stress, the present pandemic has put a premium on the need for creating a favorable ecosystem around us that would act as the first line of resistance against such adversities. To address these issues professionally, KIIT Deemed to be University organized a virtual counseling session on “Mental and Physical Well-Being” on 16th & 17th January 2021. Students and faculty representing all the schools of KIIT participated in good measure in the webinar.

Ms Caroline Mc Guinness, a leading expert in coaching/counseling and mentoring of Mc Guinness Consultancy, Board Member, AusInd Bridge Foundation/SACLG, Australia addressed the participants on positive mental health and mindset. In her deliberation, she covered areas including physical and emotional boundaries, human needs & relationships. She also emphasized on the strength and importance of recreation, community and spirituality so essential for personal growth. The narrative was well received by the participants and the sessions ended both the days with positive interaction.

Prof. Jnyana Ranjan Mohanty, Registrar welcomed the speaker and spoke about the need for proper balance between mind and the body to usher positivity in life. Discussion on this subject during the two-day session has become more relevant in the pandemic context, he stated.

Dr. Sucheta Priyabadini, Director Student Counseling, KIIT briefed about the working of the Counseling Cell and how it provides emotional support to the students in distress by holding regular in house counseling sessions. She further stated that the invitation of Ms. Caroline was in line with the practice followed by the Counseling Cell of periodically exposing the students of KIIT to professional experts on the subject.

While introducing the subject and the speaker, she mentioned about the declaration of the year 2021 as “Year of Love” by Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS, as  2020 has been full of disappointment and distress. She cited one of his tweets in which he had said, “When we align ourselves with loving thoughts, anxiety and worry will start to fade. Decisions that might have preoccupied us before will become easier to make.”

Dr. Lalita Patnaik, CMO & OICPg Cell (Academics) concluded with a vote of thanks.

Prof. Samaresh Mishra, Director, Students Affairs; Prof. Saroj Mahapatra, Director, School of Management and other faculty members were present in the virtual counseling sessions.