A community outreach program by the students of the School of Liberal Arts titled "Empowering the Local Community and Disadvantaged People for Making Them Self-Reliant through Mental Health Awareness" was successfully conducted in Village Kotra Santaur on 22 November 2024, The program aimed to promote mental health awareness, self-care practices, and strategies to improve the quality of life among the local population. This initiative was organized under the guidance of IQAC- Uttaranchal University, as part of an effort to address mental health issues often neglected in rural areas.
The students of MA Clinical Psychology played a pivotal role in delivering interactive and engaging sessions to the villagers. They have interacted with the local villagers on the topics Mental Health and well-being, Self-Care Practices & Improving Quality of Life. The villagers participated enthusiastically in the discussions and activities. The villagers provided feedback and expressed gratitude for shedding light on topics often stigmatized in their community. Attendees, including women, youth, and elders, appreciated the practical advice and tools provided to improve their mental well-being. The program successfully raised awareness about mental health and self-reliance among the villagers. The community outreach program at Kotra Santaur proved to be a significant step in empowering the local community. By addressing mental health challenges and promoting self-reliance, the initiative laid a strong foundation for fostering resilience among disadvantaged groups. It is recommended that similar programs be conducted periodically to sustain the momentum and continue building awareness.
The community outreach visit was successfully coordinated by Dr Atika Tewari, Chairperson- Psychological Counseling Cell and conducted under the supervision of Prof (Dr) Shravan Kumar, Director, SLA and Dr Anju Singh and Mr Jageshwar Ray accompanied the students during the outreach visit.
