A Q&A on Mental Health with Health and Wellness Director
Whether it's a first time appointment or routine counseling, mental health services can be a huge boon for students dealing with the stressful ...
Oct 31, 2015
Whether it's a first time appointment or routine counseling, mental health services can be a huge boon for students dealing with the stressful obligations, emotions or struggles of university life. However, some NYU Abu Dhabi students still remain unaware of on-campus support options, which take many forms and have changed alongside a growing student body.
In a Q&A, The Gazelle spoke to Dr. Halah Ibrahim, director of the Health and Wellness Center, about the various ways students can seek mental health assistance at NYUAD.
The Gazelle: How many counselors are currently on campus?
Halah Ibrahim: There are two counselors currently on campus. The Health and Wellness Center website is being updated with bios and information on our entire team.Is the school looking for more counselors?
Yes, the university is actively recruiting more counselors.What does the availability of these counselors look like? How quickly can one schedule an appointment?
Urgent issues are handled the same day. If the counselors are not readily available, the physicians at the Health and Wellness Center have mental health experience and can assess and triage as needed.For routine appointments, students can generally be seen within a few days of their request. We are encouraging students to make appointments by walking in and calling rather than email.
Apart from seeing counselors, what other resources for mental health care does the university offer?
In addition to one-to-one counseling, the Health and Wellness Center also provides weekly workshops on stress management and monthly workshops on mindful eating. In addition, all the physicians and nurses at Health and Wellness can provide mental health support to students who may be reluctant to see a counselor.The Office of Mental Health Promotion is also a great resource, and organizes many workshops and activities throughout the year on important issues, including adjusting to college, sleep, hygiene, etc. For freshmen, the Office of First Year Programming is always a good starting point.
Do students have access to a psychiatrist and medication in the UAE?
Yes, Health and Wellness has established relationships with psychiatrists in the community and can refer students to them. For students already on medication, our physicians can prescribe refills, with the exception of ADD meds, which must be written by a psychiatrist in Abu Dhabi.Will students be sent home if they have a mental health issue?
The aim of your counselor is to support you so that you can stay at NYUAD and enjoy that experience. When students require a higher level of care, such as in-patient hospitalization or the presence of their family for support, then a medical leave of absence may be discussed.Why do we rely on polycom, a secure Skype line to NYU New York, for psychiatrists?
We don’t. Students are welcome to see psychiatrists in the [UAE] community. Some students prefer to see an NYU-affiliated psychiatrist because of the ease of this process or their existing relationship with that psychiatrist. We help to facilitate these meetings for the students.Are there any specific requirements for licensing and does Health and Wellness recruit from within the UAE to address this?
One of our current counselors, Dr. Jessica Lee, has spent many years in the UAE prior to joining NYUAD. Finding a counselor with local experience ensures that the counselor is familiar with local customs, traditions and can better navigate the UAE healthcare system.What can students expect in a first counseling session?
You can expect your counselor to be respectful, non-judgmental and supportive. In your first counseling session your counselor will orient you to the limits of confidentiality and will talk with you about their approach. The counselor will ask you to tell them a little about what has brought you in to counseling and will help you to set goals and devise a treatment plan.How can I support a friend if I think that they may need to be in touch with a counselor?
You can start by letting them know that counselors are available and that appointments can be made by walking into the Health and Wellness Center or calling 02 628 8100 on Sunday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.You can also encourage them to call the Wellness Exchange for phone counseling, which is available 24/7. If you are concerned about a friend, you can always let a counselor know that, and then the counselor may reach out to the person too.
Liza Tait-Bailey is social media editor. Tessa Ayson is features editor. Email them at feedback@thegazelle.org.
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