“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” — Albus Dumbledore
Date & Time: 11th October, 2021 at 4.00 p.m.
Zoom Link: https://pillai-edu-in.zoom.us/j/83065706564?pwd=VS9wNjFhVHJGL0tPSkJ2a1hjcS9Zdz09
Meeting ID: 830 6570 6564 Passcode: 444707
Resource Person: Ms. Namita Shetty
An Expert Talk for student-teachers was organized by the MES’s Pillai HOC College of Education & Research, Rasayani on the topic “Emotional Well-Being in Times of Crisis” in its endeavours to empower the students. PHCER invited speaker Ms. Namita Shetty, Psychologist / Regression Therapist, Family Constellation Facilitator, and Life between Lives Therapist on 11th October, 2021 at 4.00 p.m. and conducted the webinar through the Zoom platform.
Introduction
Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Governments all around the world hastened to respond by enforcing measures such as social-distancing, quarantine and isolation. While necessary, these measures can have a significant effect on young people’s mental health. Fear, anxiety, anger, sadness and grief are compounded by being away from schools, work, peers, adjusting to new ways of learning and working, as well as fear of losing jobs and family income. In order to address this issue and suggest various remedial measures, MES’s PHCER, Rasayani in association with Soroptimist International Bombay Chembur (SIBC) in observing World Mental Health Day on the topic “Emotional Well-Being in Times of Crisis”on 11th October, 2021 at 4.00 p.m. The Programme Coordinators for the webinar were Ms. Angel Sunder and Ms. Reema Nikalje.
Inaugural Session
The expert talk started with the opening remark given by Ms. Angel Sunder who highlighted that learning to manage our emotional reaction to stress is critical in attaining emotional balance and well-being. Beginning to better understand ourselves (our patterns and responses to stress) while keeping things in perspective (acknowledgement that ‘it is what it is’), and be willing to get help when we need it, is a large component to emotional wellness. This mental resourcefulness of identifying the area of concern, and employing coping, persistence and resilience skills where possible, is an important factor in achieving overall health and well-being, enabling us to maintain the necessary optimism, self-esteem, self-acceptance and ability to experience and cope with feelings independently and inter-personally.
Ms. Reema Nikalje in her Welcome Address, said that the topic of the expert talk is of vital importance considering the current situation. This has multi-folded the challenges which has cumulatively impacted the physical, mental, financial, and social well-being of people. Hence it is quite important that all of us should be more careful for both our physical and mental well-being.
Technical Session
Ms. Niharika Mehta, Ms. Namita Shetty, Psychologist/Regression Therapist, Family Constellation Facilitator, and Life between Lives Therapist, in her presentation “Emotional Well-Being in Times of Crisis” focused on how working from home and extended work hours have become the new normal, and have led to reduced family time; how the use of gadgets for online classes affect children’s concentration; and the effect the lack of physical activity has had on children and how they are missing out on childhood fun. She also discussed various issues and mental challenges being faced by students, learning aspects during Covid and how creativity can help in resolving them.
Finally, the technical session ended with couple of questions which were asked by the participants and patiently answered by the eminent speaker to the satisfaction of the audience.
Valedictory Address
Finally, Ms. Angel Sunder expressed her gratitude towards the Management for their constant support and encouragement to attend & conduct such enriching sessions. She further thanked the speaker for her exemplary efforts in providing an informative session which will help the students that they should strive for progress, not perfection, along the way. Practicing radical self-acceptance and loving self-compassion can go a long ways in helping each of us find the emotional intelligence and well-being necessary for a more fulfilling and peaceful life.
Vote of thanks
The vote of thanks for the expert talk was proposed by Ms. Angel Sunder, Programme Coordinator of the webinar. She thanked all the delegates, speakers and participants for devoting their precious time for the expert talk.
