Media Release
Mangaluru:, Feb 8: SCINTILLA 2020, a national workshop on Psycho-Education organized by the department of MSc Counselling, School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya was inaugurated here on Saturday February 8.
Dr Thomas Scaria, former senior programme officer at Colombo Plan, Sri Lanka inaugurated the workshop stating in his inaugural address that the national workshop on psychoeducation is an activity-oriented workshop which will not only help us understand what is psychoeducation but also help us to undergo psychoeducation as we realize the disorders within us.
"There is a feeling that psychoeducation is for only sick people. Yes, maybe, but to a great extent, we are all sick people. We are passing through a very difficult time in history. The unemployment rate is an all-time high. The GDP is dangerously low. The poverty condition of India is even worse than some of the African countries. Suicide rates have grown drastically high. Many young people are becoming prey to drugs and alcohol. Depression is widespread, only we do not recognize it. That is why we all need Psychoeducation."
He stressed that the truck-load of free data supplied by various service providers over a long time has made at least half the Indian population addicted to mobiles and social media. As all of us know, prevention is better than cure. But almost all our medical systems, government policies, funding avenues etc have only prioritized provisions for treatment. We have very little resources and people engaged in the prevention or early intervention.
"Today, everyone in society requires some psycho-education, psycho-social intervention and counselling. Schools need to integrate elements of psycho-social education along with their hectic curriculum. The universities should integrate lessons which will teach students to survive, to grow as creative and positive people with the ability to cope with their day-to-day stressful situations. Our education curriculum needs a drastic amendment, integrating human and social elements into it, not just knowledge and skills towards specialized workmanship," Thomas opined.
The principal of the college, Dr Juliet C J while delivering the presidential address stated that Scintilla 2020 will bring in a spark that involves psycho Education whose goal is to better understand and become accustomed to positive mental health conditions. One gains knowledge of one’s strengths, abilities and seeks greater inner capacity through this workshop. Play is the feel for one's imagination and creativity, problem-solving abilities and interpersonal relations," she added.
Earlier, while speaking about the workshop, Rosa Nimmy Mathew, the organizing secretary of the workshop, pointed out that ‘Scintilla’ 2020 will help the young minds to take time to replenish themselves through play, to engage their creative side of the brain and to silence their inner editor. It also helps them acquire the skills to foster acceptance, to rekindle higher-order cognition and enhance interpersonal effectiveness.
Dr Wilsy Francis, Assistant Professor, Jenifer Carlo, Assistant Professor, Thani Anwar, forum president were present during the occasion. Emilia Deniz Silveira compered the programme.