The GIIS SMART Campus Interact Club hosted and organised a Mental Health seminar, aimed at increasing awareness about the importance of one’s mental wellbeing. 

The seminar was held virtually on the 6th of September, from 6-7pm, for the students of grades 11 and 12. Leading the session was Rotarian Uttam Kripalani, an active member of the Rotary Club of Singapore. Rotarian Uttam Kripalani has served on the Boards of both the Rotary Club of Cochin West and the Rotary Club of Singapore in various capacities and has the distinction of having a 100 per cent attendance record throughout his involvement with the Rotary. Having been an avid advocate for mental health for more than 60 years, Mr Kripalani is also one of the founding members of the Crohns and Colitis Society of Singapore and Vice Chairman of the Action Group for Mental Illness (AGMI).

Mr Kripalani covered various topics including coping with anxiety, adverse impact of the pandemic on mental wellbeing, exam anxiety and the importance of seeking help. The seminar also aimed to eliminate existing taboos surrounding mental health and further increase the students’ understanding on the topic itself. The session also consisted of an interactive quiz as well as a Q&A segment, where students could test their knowledge and get a deeper insight into personal issues and topics.

Mental health is an important part one’s being and thus, it is necessary that students are equipped with the right mindset and skills to deal with related problems and take care of their mental wellbeing. The initiative taken by the Interact Club served to be a fruitful session, having increased the students’ understanding on the topic and ensuring that the students experience a stress-free school life.