Therapy Dogs and Finding Support: Mental Health Day to Be Held at HSE University

October 10 is World Mental Health Day. For several years, the HSE Centre for Psychological Counselling has organised Mental Health Day at the university. HSE students, staff and guests can learn more about themselves and their feelings, as well as contribute to the destigmatisation of mental health issues. This year, the participants of the festival will meet with therapy dogs and take part in a dog therapy session, listen to the live podcast ‘Everything is OK’, and attend lectures by psychologists.

Today, people are starting to pay more attention to mental health issues. However, some mental disorders are strongly stigmatised, and often, people who need psychiatric or psychological help do not seek it for fear of being judged or misunderstood.

World Mental Health Day aims to raise awareness of mental health, making psychological assistance more accessible. The HSE Centre for Psychological Counselling, which helps all students and doctoral students 24/7, conducts group programmes and individual consultations and shares self-help materials, follows the same goals.

Mental Health Day at HSE University is also an opportunity to talk about mental health in general and how to take care of it. The Centre’s specialists point out that it is important to talk about problems and receive psychological help when you are experiencing difficulties—especially in stressful times.

Irina Makarova, Director of the HSE Centre for Psychological Counselling

Mental Health Day has been held at HSE University since 2019. The idea emerged as a response to students' request for psychological education, an increase in the need for psychological help and support, and at the same time a low level of trust in mental health specialists and the stigmatisation of this topic. It was a breakthrough: we got an opportunity to talk about it loudly and openly. Since then, this event has become a university tradition. The format changes (during the pandemic, for example, it was held online), but the essence remains the same—attention to yourself and others, empathy in relations, environmental friendliness and the psychology of the university environment. No matter what circumstances we live in, it is important to take care of our and other people’s feelings.

Mental Health Day 2022 is being held on October 10 from 14:00 to 21:00 at HSE University on Pokrovsky Bulvar. In the central atrium you’ll meet pre-psychological care volunteers, attend a dog therapy session, and learn more about the project of the Office for Digital Media and Promotion. Rooms R408, S307 and N206 will host the Iive podcast ‘Everything is OK’, as well as lectures by psychologists and staff of the HSE School of Psychology. For example, at the lecture ‘How to Save Yourself Today: Prevention of Education Stress and Burnout’, you’ll learn how to cope with anxiety, fear, anger, sadness and despair, how not to burn out, and take care of yourself in time.

A detailed programme can be found on the festival page (in Russian).

Entrance is free for HSE students and staff. If you are not from HSE University, but plan to attend the event, you must register in advance.

October 10, 2022