Mindfulness and Creative Expression Highlight World Mental Health Day at The Apollo University

The Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Health Sciences in association with Apollo’s Wellbeing Centre (ASWBC), The Apollo University, organised a World Mental Health Day Workshop on 8 October 2026 at the Dr. Prathap C. Reddy Knowledge Centre (Dr. PCRKC) Auditorium, under the theme “Create Awareness • Build Resilience • Support Well-being.” The programme was planned to promote mental health awareness, emotional resilience and holistic well-being among the university community through a combination of expert insights, mindfulness practices and experiential therapeutic activities. The event commenced at 9:15 AM with the formal inauguration in the presence of Prof. (Dr.) Nitin M. Nagarkar, Vice Chancellor, The Apollo University, as the Chief Guest, and Shri Anil Kumar S., Registrar, The Apollo University, as the Guest of Honour. Addressing the gathering, the university leadership highlighted the importance of recognising mental health as an integral component of overall well-being and emphasised the need to stand-in as a supportive, empathetic and healthy campus environment where students and staff can seek support and develop effective coping mechanisms.

Addressing the gathering, Prof. (Dr.) Nitin M. Nagarkar, Vice Chancellor, The Apollo University, reflected on the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it had on people’s mental and emotional well-being. He noted that the pandemic brought unprecedented changes, including isolation, uncertainty, fear, disruption of routines and prolonged periods of social distancing, highlighting how mental health can be affected during times of crisis. He emphasised that the experience reinforced the importance of resilience, emotional preparedness, human connection and timely psychological support. The Vice Chancellor stressed that mental health should not be treated as a concern only during crises but should be nurtured as an integral part of everyday life. He encouraged students and staff to develop healthy coping mechanisms, remain connected with others, seek support when needed and cultivate greater awareness of their own emotional well-being. He also highlighted the responsibility of educational institutions in creating supportive environments where individuals can openly discuss mental health concerns without stigma.

The keynote session was delivered by Swami Amaradhipananda Maharaj, Monk of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, who spoke on “Mindfulness for Mental Well-being: Cultivating Awareness, Balance and Resilience.” Drawing upon the principles of mindfulness and spiritual wisdom, the session encouraged participants to develop greater self-awareness, emotional balance and inner calm. The speaker elaborated on the importance of being mindful of thoughts, emotions and everyday experiences and explained how simple mindfulness practices can support stress management, emotional regulation and resilience. The session provided participants with practical perspectives on maintaining mental equilibrium while managing academic, professional and personal demands. It also encouraged participants to cultivate positive habits, reflective thinking and greater awareness of their own emotional well-being.

The keynote session was followed by an interactive Therapeutic Pottery Workshop conducted under the concept “Express • Explore • Heal • Connect.” Designed as an experiential and tactile therapeutic activity, the workshop provided participants with an opportunity to engage in clay sculpting and pottery making as a means of creative expression and mindful engagement. Through hands-on interaction with clay, participants were encouraged to explore creativity, focus their attention on the present moment and experience the calming benefits of artistic activity. The workshop created an informal and engaging environment that encouraged self-expression, relaxation and social connection, demonstrating how creative and experiential activities can complement broader approaches to mental well-being.

The programme successfully integrated awareness, mindfulness and creative expression to communicate the importance of mental health in everyday life. The combination of an expert keynote session and an experiential therapeutic activity enabled participants to gain both conceptual understanding and practical exposure to approaches that can contribute to emotional well-being and resilience. The programme was conducted under the leadership of Dr. Ramesh S. Ve, Dean, School of Health Sciences, with the active coordination and support of Dr. V. Subramanyam, HoD, Clinical Psychology; Dr. V. Hariharan, Assistant Professor, School of Health Sciences and Chairman, Apollo’s Wellbeing Centre (ASWBC); Dr. Sudha P., Assistant Professor; and other faculty members of the Department of Clinical Psychology. Their collective efforts contributed to the effective planning and execution of the World Mental Health Day Workshop and supported the successful integration of awareness, mindfulness and therapeutic activities into the programme. The collaborative efforts of the Department of Clinical Psychology and Apollo’s Wellbeing Centre (ASWBC) contributed to making the World Mental Health Day observance an engaging and meaningful learning experience, leaving participants with greater awareness of mindfulness, resilience, self-care and the importance of supporting mental well-being within the university and wider community.