In the presence of His Excellency the Vice President for Educational and Academic Affairs, Professor Mishari bin Ayyad Al-Osaimi, the Deanship of Student Affairs, represented by the Guidance and Counseling Unit, organized a forum entitled "Mental Health: Awareness and Resilience in the Face of Crises" on Monday, October 13, 2025 AD, corresponding to Rabi' al-Akhir 21, 1447 AH (1447 AH), to mark World Mental Health Day. The forum was held at the College of Engineering Theater and attended by a select group of faculty members, students, and those interested in mental health.
The forum sought to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and highlight the role of psychological resilience in facing life's challenges and pressures, stemming from the university's commitment to creating a supportive environment that contributes to achieving psychological balance for its students and staff.
The forum included two panel discussions that addressed scientific and awareness-raising topics:
- The first session, entitled "The Right to Access Mental Health Services: A Necessity, Not a Luxury," was presented by Dr. Mahmoud Ali Qutb, Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Neurology, College of Medicine. The session discussed the importance of providing mental health services to all without discrimination, emphasizing the need to raise community awareness of the importance of seeking psychological support in a timely manner.
The second session, titled "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Hidden Psychological Face of Disasters," was presented by Dr. Mustafa Mahmoud Abdel Moneim, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the College of Medicine. The session reviewed the psychological and behavioral symptoms resulting from crises and disasters, emphasizing the importance of early intervention and psychological support for those affected.
The forum was accompanied by an awareness exhibition featuring relevant entities, including King Khalid Hospital in Al-Kharj, Your Doctor Clinics, the Intilaqa and Tamooh Center for Psychological and Family Counseling, and the Bedayat Al-Sukun Center for Psychological Counseling. These entities showcased their efforts and programs to raise awareness of mental health and provide community support.
In conclusion, the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Issa bin Khalaf Al-Dosari, expressed his thanks and appreciation to the speakers and participating entities for their valuable contributions to the success of the forum, emphasizing the university's commitment to continuing to support initiatives that enhance psychological awareness and promote the quality of university life, in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030.
