AUK Psychology Students Visit Mental Health Facilities

Psychology Professor Juliet Dinkha organized a trip for the students of Abnormal Psychology to visit different mental health facilities in Kuwait. The first institution was The Drug and Alcohol Rehab Center, where they were met by Fatima-one of the center's counselors who gave a complete tour of the facilities.

She began by explaining the center's goals which is to provide medical, social and financial support to treat addiction. This was followed by an open discussion about the dangers and implications of drug and alcohol abuse. Furthermore, Fatima also mentioned the three cases in which addicts are admitted to the center. Patients either come at their own expense, or by law enforcement, or by court orders. All of these cases are treated carefully with an emphasis on confidentiality. During the tour, the students explored the different facilities that the center provides, like the gym, swimming pool, and outdoor space. The rehab center also provides a residential halfway house, which is aimed to help addicts stay clean. The residents of the halfway house are able to leave the house to work, visit family, etc. The halfway house also provides housing for patients who have completed their rehab programs, but are in need of an environment that is conducive to a full recovery.

The second facility visited was the Kuwait Center for Mental Health. Dr. Abeer Hamadah guided the students through the facility and its objectives. She discussed her passion for mental health, and the efforts the center is putting to normalize mental illness. It treats patients with a variety of mental illnesses, but the most common are schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The center provides a well-rounded approach to treatment. It provides educational programs-especially linguistic. It has also recently opened up an occupational therapy unit.

Finally, the students visited the forensic unit of the Mental Health Center, which is the first of its kind in the Gulf region. The trips were insightful and enriching for the students. With the help of the experienced guides, the students were able to witness first-hand the process of recovery, and learn more specifics about various mental health issues.

Images from the Visit