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For the third consecutive year, student organisation have brought back their Therapy Campaign, a DegreePlus recognised programme for the UM community, enabling whoever is interested to meet warranted psychologists that will introduce them to different kinds of therapy through ten interactive workshops.  

Starting in November 2023; on Wednesdays & Fridays from noon until 14:00, members of the UM community may learn more about Gestalt psychotherapy, ecotherapy, dance therapy, music therapy, sports therapy and mindfulness, among others. 

Newspoint asked Betapsi’s Educational Officer, Ms Maria Kristina Caruana, on why they think exposing colleagues to effective ways of tackling mental health is important.  

 

Why do you think going to therapy is still seen as unnecessary or weak by some? 

First and foremost, this is because many people have a wrong and unclear idea of what therapy really involves. I’m sure we have all heard someone saying “I don’t need a therapist to solve my problems”.  That statement in itself shows that that person does not know what therapy is about, as a person does not go to therapy so that the therapist can solve all of their problems, but rather a therapist equips you with the necessary tools which you will be able to use in the long-term for your own mental wellbeing and holistic growth. Through therapy, a therapist will help you to develop sustainable ways of adjusting and coping with problems, but will definitely not solve any problems for you directly.

Furthermore, within our society, going to therapy is still something relatively new, and so some people might still view it as unnecessary simply because people, up to some years ago, did not have access to it. This causes them to view accessing therapy as a sign of weakness because they would think “the ones before us managed without it, so if we cannot do the same, we are weak”.  

Other than the Therapy Campaign, how does Betapsi raise awareness on this? 

Betapsi makes a consistent effort to educate students and the general public about mental health and going to therapy. This is accomplished through our educational events and online campaigns that are organised throughout the year. For instance, next semester we are planning to bring a number of speakers to talk about different psychological disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Through listening to the experience of these speakers and discussing therapy, we hope to continue chipping away at the stigma that surrounds these conditions and going to therapy.

So, how does going to therapy help improve one’s mental health? 

Therapy is important as a relational process, so one cannot expect to go to therapy once and be done with it. Firstly, it involves building a therapeutic relationship with the therapist to ultimately find affective techniques that work best in that situation. After building that relationship, the therapist and client work collaboratively to figure out the client’s goals, and then they unpack different techniques to manage a problem, or reach that goal. The therapist can offer insight into the client’s blind spots and offer new or alternate perspectives to the clients which they might not have considered before.  

Are there enough resources at UM to help with students’ mental health? 

The Counselling Unit offers students 10-15 free sessions per year. Recently, KSU has also announced that it is offering students the opportunity to receive free therapy sessions for the next two years. More broadly, the Health & Wellness Centre supports students in other ways, such as through the Chaplaincy and Student Advisory �����������.   

Hence, the University and its entities definitely do acknowledge the importance of students’ mental health and wellbeing, yet we believe that a stigma still exists around the issue of mental health and going to therapy, and so perhaps more can be done in order to try to reduce this stigma through opportunities for more open dialogue around the topic.  

 

How can we support peers if we notice warning signs? 

When we notice these warning signs, we can initiate a conversation in a private and non-judgemental manner. It is important to not only show concern and willingness to listen to the person, but also to demonstrate empathy and avoiding platitudes or dismissing or minimising negative feelings. That said, encouraging professional help, such as therapy or counselling can help the individual express their feelings and develop more long-term coping strategies to deal with their issues and live a health life. 

In cases where someone’s mental health is affecting their ability to manage daily tasks, we can also offer to help them with their grocery shipping, cooking, childcare, and other such tasks. This can also leave space for the person struggling to engage in self-care, including maintaining a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, exercising, engaging in and engaging in means of relaxation, such as mindfulness, yoga and hobbies.

 

If you believe the person to be in immediate danger, you should not hesitate to call emergency services, as an individual’s safety is always the top priority. Lastly, supporting someone with mental health issues can be emotionally draining, so make sure you set and keep healthy boundaries. Support is not only there for those suffering from mental health issues, but also for their loved ones. One should remember that they don’t have all the answers, but being there and showing that you genuinely care can make a significant difference in someone’s life.

The perception is that therapy is expensive to attend. What other resources can students seek? 

• Firstly, the university provides psychological services, and even psychiatric services if necessary to all students. One can send an email to the counselling unit on campus, or else call 2340 2235.

• Moreover, the Health and Wellness Centre is currently offering an 8-week course for students on mindfulness and kindness for psychological well-being where students may practice and apply these learnt techniques in their daily lives.

• There are also several helplines across the island which one can use, either to talk to someone in an anonymous way or else in need of an emergency. These helplines include , Government National helpline 1579, which is open twenty-four hours a day, Oli Chat on , which is open Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 20:00, and Saturday between 08:00 and 16:00, and also Richmond Foundation Helpline 1770 which is open Monday to Saturday between 08:00 and 20:00.

• Some NGOs such as Richmond Foundation also offer monthly support groups for free which provide a supportive environment for people going through similar experiences. 

• Betapsi’s current therapy campaign can also be seen as a useful resource for students as it exposes individuals to different types of therapies one can attend, thus raising more awareness. 

• Lastly, while not a substitute for therapy, self-help resources like books, online articles, and mental health apps can provide valuable information and coping strategies.

Sign up if you’re interested in joining the DegreePlus sessions!