Psychiatry Club at the Deanship of Student Services Organizes Mental Health Conference
The Psychiatry Club at the Deanship of Student Services organized the “Mental Health in the Community” Conference to enhance community awareness and promote the importance of mental well-being. The event brought together medical students and healthcare professionals from across the UAE and beyond. The conference opened with a welcoming address and an introduction to the club’s activities, setting the stage for a day of focused discussions on mental health and psychological well-being.
The sessions began with a lecture delivered by student Mohammad Alkhazali and Dena Nashaat Hamza, an intern at Tawam Hospital in Al Ain, which addressed mental health in the community and emphasized the importance of raising public awareness and improving access to mental healthcare services.
This was followed by a presentation by Aqsa Noor Akhter, Alia Khan, and Meshal Gul Faraz, fifth-year students at the College of Medicine, focusing on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psychological trauma among refugee children. The presentation highlighted the hidden psychological effects of displacement and experiences of deprivation.
Zainab Al Saedi and Maitha Khamis Alyahyaee from the University of Sharjah discussed academic stress and its connection to students’ eating habits, a topic that resonated with many attendees. Hiba Rahman presented a session titled “Inside the Minds of the Burdened and the Blind,” offering a creative and reflective perspective on emotional and psychological struggles.
In a later session, Hain Shameer, a sixth-year student at the College of Medicine, examined how mental illness is portrayed in films and television series, sparking discussion about the accuracy of media representation and the impact of social stigma on public awareness of mental health.
The conference also addressed diverse topics, including caffeine-related anxiety and the mental health of healthcare workers, with speakers providing multiple perspectives that broadened understanding of mental well-being in everyday life.
Guest speaker Dr. Basma, Psychiatry Specialist at Maudsley Health, delivered a scientific presentation on the use of dietary supplements in psychiatry, bridging academic research with practical application.
The conference concluded with a session presented by Dr. Sahreen Naz from Dubai Hospital, featuring a powerful case study on complex post-traumatic stress disorder in an adolescent survivor of childhood abuse, highlighting the importance of early intervention and specialized psychological support.
The organization of the conference reflects the commitment of the Deanship of Student Services to supporting awareness initiatives that promote mental health and emphasize its role in enhancing students’ quality of life, through the provision of educational and dialogue platforms that empower students and foster a campus environment supportive of mental well-being. The conference further reaffirmed that mental health is just as important as physical health.