Does your university as a body provide staff with access to free mental health support?
Psychological and Social Counseling
This unit is responsible for pursuing the non-academic problems and provide appropriate solutions for the students. Both individual and collective advice are offered to students while maintaining the highest degree of confidentiality.
As for the new students, the unit would help them to overcome the difficulties that they may encounter in their first year.
Second: Counseling Units
al_ain_university_student_handbook_2019_2020_en.pdf
• Psychological and Social Counseling Unit
This Unit is responsible for pursuing the non-academic problems and provide appropriate solutions for the students. Both individual and collective advice are offered to students while maintaining the highest degree of confidentiality. As for the new students, the Unit would help them to overcome the difficulties that they may encounter in their first year.
• Health Care Unit
The University’s clinic provides primary health services, nursing care in addition to handling simple emergencies. In case of critical situations, a student would be transported to the nearest hospital by ambulance so that a specialized doctor would ascertain the situation and complete the necessary tests. Also, the clinic provides general guidelines and continuing health education for students as healthy food, attention to personal hygiene and how to get enough rest and sleep to achieve greater academic results.
The University Clinic arranges lectures on various awareness programs, in cooperation with the Student Activities Unit and external health institutions. Additionally, it participates in many global health events and celebrations. One of the basic services provided by the Health Care Unit is the health insurance service for students. The unit issues health insurance cards for the students whose residency is issued by the University. In order to get a health insurance, students must submit the following documentation:
1. A valid ‘To whom it may concern’ certificate issued from AAU.
2. One personal photo.
3. A copy of the Emirates ID.
4. A copy of valid passport.
5. A copy of valid visa. T
International Day of Happiness 2023
https://communication.aau.ac.ae/ar/photos/view/1795
AAU launches an awareness campaign for Mental health
https://aau.ac.ae/en/news/2018/aau-launches-an-awareness-campaign-for-mental-health
On the occasion of the World Mental Health Day, students from the Applied Psychology Program at the College of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences at Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi Campus, launched an awareness campaign under the title "My Health, My Happiness". In order to raise awareness of mental health issues.
Students presented information on mental health and its impact on the individual health by distributing awareness brochures, in addition to, the activities and scientific experiments carried out by the students and targeted academic and administrative members and AAU students. The activities included training the staff on some relaxation exercises to be practiced in the office in order to alleviate the pressure of work, apply psychological tests to measure the mental health of students, and the experience of listening to loud and quiet music and their impacts on the students focus and attention. The campaign also focused on the importance of reading and sports to have a good mental health.
The campaign concluded with competitions and intellectual questions that the audience interacted with.
A virtual lecture on the link between inner peace and physical health
https://aau.ac.ae/en/news/2022/a-virtual-lecture-on-the-link-between-inner-peace-and-physical-health
In collaboration with the College of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the Deanship of Student Affairs, Abu Dhabi Campus, organized a virtual lecture entitled; Inner Peace, Physical and Mental Health, presented by Dr. Osama Allala, Sports Awareness Specialist, and moderated by Dr. Majed Al Saleh, Associate Professor from the College of Education.
The lecture dealt with various topics, including the causes of aging, the secrets of inner peace, and how to balance them with mental and physical health, and the link between biological clock and physical activity.
Dr. Allala talked about psychological stress and tension, which is one of the most important causes of premature aging and cancer, as it increases the rate of oxidation in the body. Studies also indicate that loneliness, lack of attention, love and negative thinking forces the mind to send signals via the sympathetic alarm system to fat cells, which leads to slowing down the metabolism and lowering the efficiency of the body to burn fat, which makes the body more resistant to insulin and thus gain weight.
He also stressed on the importance of training the mind to relax, as research studies indicate that enjoying life and staying away from hatred and malice contribute positively to promoting health and preventing chronic diseases.
Theatrical performance to promote the Human Brotherhood
https://aau.ac.ae/en/news/2023/theatrical-performance-to-promote-the-human-brotherhood
The Deanship of Student Affairs at Al Ain University (Abu Dhabi Campus) staged a theatrical performance in cooperation with the College of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, entitled "Sympathy is a Path towards Human Fraternity" to celebrate the International Day of Human Fraternity, with the participation and supervision of Dr. Samer Abdel Hadi - Associate Professor of Educational Psychology.
Students from different colleges participated in the show, which played roles that illustrate the importance of empathy between people and presented scenes about empathy and its impact on the development of human relations between individuals.
Awareness Lectures on Family Issues and Resolution Strategies in Al Ain University [18]
Organized by the Deanship of Students Affairs at the Al Ain University, based in Al Ain, an awareness lecture entitled "Family Issues and Resolution Strategies’ by the Attorney Advisor, Abdulla Al Kaabi, who noted the importance of developing a solid pedigree of a healthy family that is able to meet the challenges of the future. The lecture was attended by a number of academic and administrative bodies and university students.
During the lecture the Advisor stated that a safe and a well-being of a family has a strong impact on the well-being of the community. On the other hand, a collapsing family would risk the society because the family will fail to perform the main key roles, namely proper socialization and social control.
He also noted that the family is the first and the most important human institutions that can be achieved with the cooperation between a man and a woman, their motives in this are subjective and hence the legislation on marriage, which is a sacred relationship between a man and a woman will produce offsprings who are influenced by that relationship, whether positively or negatively.
In conclusion, a session of interesting questions and dialogue between took place between the attendees and the Advisor. He also noted that he offers free counseling for those interested in family areas, and it’s open to all university students to connect with and make use of this service.
A Lecture on “Secrets of marital happiness” at AAU [19]
https://aau.ac.ae/en/news/2018/a-lecture-on-%E2%80%9Csecrets-of-marital-happiness%E2%80%9D-at-aau/
Within the Family Sociology course for students of the applied sociology program, Al Ain University, Al Ain Campus, hosted Dr. Shafea Al Neyadi, Board Member of Directors in the Emirates Talent Care Association and human development expert and a trainer and consultant in the development of human resources and family relations, to present a lecture on the “Secrets of Marital Happiness, organized by the College of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences at AAU under the supervision of Dr. Khawla Altakhaina.
The lecture was attended by Prof. Majed Al Jallad, Dean of the College of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, Prof. Marwan Al Zoubi, Head of Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Dr. Mona Kamal, Deputy Dean of the College of Education, and a huge number of the AAU students.
Dr. Al Neyadi talked about the keys to reassurance and understanding in marital life, emotional coolness and psychological differences between spouses, and many other topics related to marital happiness.
Dr. Al Takhayna commented: (This lecture comes in the context of talking about the subject of, family building, as one of the important topics in the course, In addition to its importance to the students, as most of them are married or going to marry).
It is worth to mention that, Dr. Al Neyadi is a community specialist, he is an Emirati writer. He is also one of the first UAE writers in the field of education, administration, and thought.
A Virtual Seminar on the Psychological Effect of Distance Education [20]
https://aau.ac.ae/en/news/2020/a-virtual-seminar-on-the-psychological-effect-of-distance-education
On the occasion of the World Mental Health Day, the College of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences at Al Ain University (Al Ain Campus), represented by the Applied Psychology program, organized a virtual seminar entitled the Psychological Effect of Distance Education, supervised by Dr. Salwa Al Majali, Director of Special Education and Applied Psychology Programs, and presented by Prof. Yousef Abuhmaidan, Specialist in Applied Psychology at AAU. In the presence of approximately 100 people from the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman and Egypt.
The session discussed the psychological and social effects of shifting to distance learning and its impact on students, the family and the educational institution, the problems facing and suggesting possible solutions to reduce these problems and activate the educational process remotely.
Commenting on the virtual session, Dr. Al-Majali explained that choosing this topic for discussion came from the current conditions of Covid-19 pandemic on society, which caused a major change in the lives of many, also have a great psychological, social and economic impact.
Education students discuss the psychological importance in artificial intelligence [21]
Student Fatima Al Sraira and student Saeeda Yousef from Arts in Applied Psychology program at Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi campus, presented a virtual lecture for the students of Um Al Arab government school about the artificial intelligence and the psychological aspect, in the presence of the parents and teachers.
The lecture discussed several aspects; The importance of applied psychology specialization and its impact on artificial intelligence, the importance of harnessing artificial intelligence for the benefit of the needs of people of determination, such as virtual arms, electronic bracelet and smart facilities.
A training workshop on “Sense Sensitization”
https://aau.ac.ae/en/news/2022/a-training-workshop-on-%E2%80%9Csense-sensitization%E2%80%9D
The Deanship of Student Affairs at Al Ain University (Abu Dhabi Campus) organized a training workshop on; Sense Sensuality, presented by Mr. Amin Al-Attas- a psychologist and certified trainer.
Sense Sensuality means the ability to develop the power of observation, attention, and collection of information that appears on a person during the communication process, and to link the indicators from the outward appearance and voice that a person tries to disguise from others.
The workshop included a detailed explanation of strategies for sensitizing the senses and knowing our own and others' representational systems.
Workshop Entitled “Mental Health and Wellbeing in the workplace”
The Continuing Education Center at Al Ain University (Abu Dhabi Campus) presented a workshop about the benefit of the Department of Antiquities and Museums in Ras Al Khaimah entitled "Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace" presented by Dr. Samer Abdel Hadi from the College of Education and Human Sciences.
The workshop touched on various titles that include each of the areas of mental wellness and its dimensions, and the importance of mental health care, due to its great impact on work and productivity, in addition to its direct impact on the individual and society.
A Positive Workshop on Emotional Intelligence
https://www.aau.ac.ae/en/news/2022/a-positive-workshop-on-emotional-intelligence
The Deanship of Student Affairs at al Ain University, Abu Dhabi Campus, in collaboration with (Consulting Center in Emotional Intelligence), organized A Workshop on: How to make decisions with Emotional Intelligence, was presented by Dr. Maya Al Hawary, An entrepreneur, and the First Emirati researcher in Emotional Intelligence. She introduced emotional intelligence, how to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each person, and how to make decisions in a positive way. The workshop was attended by a large number of students, in addition to a number of faculty members.
A training workshop on “Sense Sensitization”
https://www.aau.ac.ae/en/news/2022/a-training-workshop-on-%e2%80%9csense-sensitization%e2%80%9d
The Deanship of Student Affairs at Al Ain University (Abu Dhabi Campus) organized a training workshop on; Sense Sensuality, presented by Mr. Amin Al-Attas- a psychologist and certified trainer.
Sense Sensuality means the ability to develop the power of observation, attention, and collection of information that appears on a person during the communication process, and to link the indicators from the outward appearance and voice that a person tries to disguise from others.
The workshop included a detailed explanation of strategies for sensitizing the senses and knowing our own and others' representational systems.