Mental Health Seminar

SUPPORTING CHILDREN DURING STRESSFUL TIMES – SECTION 8 A & B

Guest: Dr. M. Thomas Kishore, Ph.D. Additional Professor of Clinical Psychology The meeting started with an address by Sr. Alpana welcoming the Speaker, parents and 116 students.She told us how much she missed us students at the campus. Ms. Sneha Ram introduced Dr. M. Thomas Kishore .

Dr. Kishore talked about the corona virus, its symptoms, the risks and the prevention, like maintaining good hand hygiene, wearing mask, the etiquettes of sneezing and coughing ,physical distancing and avoiding contact, disinfecting objects and surfaces most used and home quarantine.

He told us how our mental status is affected when we are anxious, sad or scared in these times. To overcome this problem he advised us to talk to other people like friends and family about it. He encouraged us to pursue hobbies, do some exercises, and keep in touch with close friends(example by calling them) to help us feel good and energetic in these troubling times. He said that it is a dangerous virus, but with proper precautions, we can control its spread. Dr. Kishore reassured us saying that “THIS TOO SHALL PASS” Dr answered many questions related to the topic and many got the answers they needed and more.

Rhea Mathew, a student, thanked Dr. M. Thomas Kishore, Sr. Alpana and the teachers for making this interesting and informative session possible so that we could learned about what is happening around us.

SUPPORTING CHILDREN DURING STRESSFUL TIMES – SECTION 8 C & D

The ongoing COVID-19 situation is creating mass panic worldwide. People are in a vulnerable state of worry and fear, which directly impacts children everywhere.

Children hear news and rumors about this virus and its effects, leading to anxiety, stress, and a naturally negative outlook to the situation. In such a time, children require guidance and support to deal with a situation that they are struggling to understand.

The students of the 8th grade of Sophia High School were provided with this help through a virtual seminar by Dr. M. Thomas Kishore, a doctor specializing in child and adolescent mental health at NIMHANS, a prestigious mental health and neuroscience medical institution. Dr Thomas addressed multiple issues faced by adolescents today: anxiety, stress, worry and confusion related to COVID-19.

He explained to us about the symptoms, causes and prevention of this virus. He used simple, comprehensible language which was easy to understand. He listed the various effects of stress such as unhealthy eating and sleeping habits, anger outbursts and increased usage of gadgets.

These habits may adversely affect us in later life. Dr Thomas suggested many ways to reduce stress and anxiety such as pursuing hobbies, sharing feelings of worry or concern with an adult, and regular physical activity or exercise. He assured us it was normal to feel anxious, and that there are ways to deal with difficult situations.

He gave us many tips on how to convert our negative thoughts into positive ones and look to the brighter side of life. After his session, he readily welcomed the numerous questions and doubts we had regarding the Coronavirus pandemic. He answered each question with patience and clarity and calmed all our fears.

This session helped us all greatly to cope with a situation we have never dealt with before and reduced our struggles with this serious issue. This seminar was very helpful and it enlightened us on various issues we were facing.