The Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs Sector at Ain Shams University, in cooperation with the Faculty of Arts and the University’s Social Solidarity Unit, organized a symposium entitled “Mental Health for University Youth” under the patronage of Dr. Nevin Al-Qabbaj, Minister of Social Solidarity, Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, Prof. Ghada Farouk, Vice President of the University for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs, Prof. Hanan Kamel, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. Salah Hashem, Advisor to the Ministry of Social Solidarity and General Coordinator of Social Solidarity Units in Universities, coordinated by Prof. Jihan Rajab, Advisor to the Vice President of the University for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs, under the supervision of Prof. Hanan Salem, Vice Dean of the Faculty for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs, under the administrative supervision of Major General Hossam El-Sherbiny, Assistant Secretary of the University for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs.

Prof. Fathi Al-Sharqawi, professor of psychology, Former Vice President of the university, and Dr. Islam Mukhtar, Lecturer of Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, gave a lecture at the symposium.

The symposium was opened by Prof. Hanan Salem, Vice Dean of the Faculty for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs, welcomed the guests to this important symposium, as university youth are considered the segment that can be relied upon in building and developing society. She stressed that society needs a generation that enjoys good psychological health and possesses intellectual awareness that enables them to choose sound and appropriate thinking methods that emerge from a balanced system of values.

In her speech, Prof. Jihan Rajab, Advisor to the Vice President of the University for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs, thanks to Prof. Hanan Kamel, Dean of the College, for her efforts to support students’ mental health, and her continued cooperation with the University’s Social Solidarity Unit, and touched on the role of the Social Solidarity Unit within Ain Shams University.

During the symposium, Prof. Fathi Al-Sharqawi explained that the concept of mental health means a life that includes well-being, independence, merit, self-efficacy between generations, and the individual’s intellectual and emotional potential.

Stressed that mental health is important, as it can be a major reason for disrupting daily life and stopping practicing the simplest favorite activities, and we cannot underestimate the negative effects that feelings of loneliness, anxiety and stress can have on mental health.

Prof. Fathi Al-Sharqawi pointed out how to obtain good mental health and how to maintain the individual’s mental health.

Dr. Islam Mokhtar, Lecturer of psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine, at Ain Shams University, said that there are ways in which one can improve one’s mood to help in improving general mental health and well-being for a positive and fruitful world, it is for the person to take care of his health through a healthy, balanced diet, getting plenty of sleep, and learning new skills, then talking about medications and psychiatric drugs and the extent of their effect on the body and the appropriate treatment period for taking the drugs.

The symposium concluded by answering all of the attendees’ questions. The symposium received a large response from students.