Mind matters: Apeejay, Panchsheel Park hosts mental health webinar for students

What goes inside the ‘adolescent mind?’ This seems to be a dark and deep space full of layers and mysteries. During this period of development and growth, often parents, teachers, and members of the society find it difficult to peep into an adolescent’s mind.   

In order to help students of classes 9, 10 and 11 understand themselves and the deep-seated thoughts, fears, questions in their mind better, the Interact Club of Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park under its initiative, ‘Empathy for Minds’ conducted a workshop on ‘Reimagining the Adolescent Mind’ that was delivered by  Dr. Kaustubhi Shukla. Dr Shukla is a clinical psychologist with the Pushpawati Singhania Hospital and Research Institute, Sheikh Sarai, New Delhi.

At the workshop, she emphasised upon how adolescence is a period of growth marked by maturing of thoughts, impressions and behaviours. During the session, she discussed the common challenges associated with adolescents such as development of social skills, peer relations, purpose, self-esteem etc. and shared with them a glimpse of their upcoming milestones: attaining higher education, professional stability, seeking a partner and starting a family.

Dr. Shukla then described the different levels of existence: physical body, mind, emotions, energy and bliss that come together to form a single self of an individual. She highlighted how a young mind can be impacted by consumption patterns such as commonly available online and offline media.

“While things are now accessible to us at the touch of a finger, adolescents are exposed to various kinds of media and mediums. Be it blogs, emails, TV shows or video calls, a hyper-engagement with content has reduced daily interactions. Subsequently, the media has started to impact the young minds to an extent that it grows control on it. For instance, when we look at an actor/actress, we aspire to become exactly like them,” she says.

Dr. Shukla said human minds can be “impressionable” and “suggestible” and advised students to engage in originality of thought to create and work towards ideas that are unique. “Be mindful while using media and nurture and cultivate new talents,” she said. She cited and discussed practical tips for students to make use of their time efficiently and learn to self-reflect, analyse and balance their thoughts.

Before closing the session, Dr. Shukla interacted with students and took up their queries on how to keep a positive mind set during tough times. She advised students to become a beacon of light to promote good will in the society, especially in the post-pandemic world.