Prof. Dr. Muhammad Rizwan, Professor of Clinical Psychology from the Department of Psychology at the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), was invited by the Pakistan Health Parliament (PHP) to deliver an insightful seminar on "Psychological Distress and Academic Performance" at Riphah University, G-7 Campus, Islamabad. The seminar was conducted for Pharm-D students on 4th September from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Dr. Rizwan's energetic presentation captivated both students and faculty members.

The lecture, which concentrated on the practical strategies for managing stress and anxiety, provided students with invaluable insights into the impact of psychological distress on academic performance. The audience's enthusiastic response, which included gratitude for the knowledge Prof. Dr. Muhammad Rizwan imparted, underscored the seminar's significance.

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On 2nd August 2024, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Rizwan, Head of Clinical Psychology, conducted a highly engaging workshop on Emotional Resilience and Stress Management for the teachers and administrative staff at Alhuda International School, H-11, Islamabad. The session focused on equipping participants with practical strategies to enhance their emotional resilience and effectively manage stress in personal and professional settings. Dr. Rizwan's expertise in clinical psychology provided invaluable insights into the importance of maintaining emotional well-being, particularly in demanding environments like education, enlightening the audience.

The workshop was well-received by the attendees, who actively participated in discussions and exercises designed to reinforce the concepts presented. The interactive nature of the session, which fostered a dynamic exchange of ideas and ensured everyone's voice was heard, created a supportive atmosphere for learning and growth. The event benefited the participants and contributed to the overall mission of promoting mental health awareness within the educational community.

The NUMS Department of Psychology recently conducted a Personality Development Workshop as part of the NUMS Community Engagement Program, held at the Sir Syed School & College of Special Education Rawalpindi. The workshop aimed to equip participants with essential skills and a renewed sense of purpose, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 4, and 5, focusing on good health and well-being, quality education, and gender equality.

Dr. Sadia Mushtaq, Assistant Professor in the NUMS Psychology Department, served as the resource person for the workshop. The event was designed to be interactive, featuring group activities, self-assessment exercises, and discussions on personal development. Participants actively engaged in exploring strategies for building strong interpersonal relationships and effective stress management.

The impact of the workshop was tangible, as attendees left with newfound knowledge, sharpened skills, and increased motivation to enhance their personal and professional lives. Participants gained insights into various facets of their personalities, enabling them to set development goals and action plans.

Effective communication and interpersonal skills were emphasized, with attendees learning the importance of active listening, non-verbal communication, and assertiveness through role-playing and practical exercises. Stress management techniques were also covered, equipping individuals with tools to navigate life's challenges.

Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing how the workshop has already positively impacted their lives. This initiative has empowered individuals to take control of their growth and contribute positively to their communities.

The Personality Development Workshop's success reaffirms our commitment to community engagement. We look forward to bringing more transformative events to the community, empowering individuals to lead more fulfilling lives and make positive contributions to society.

A project named “Tackling The Taboo of Red Marks” (T3ORM) is a collaborative project of NUMS Department of Psychology (NDP) and NUMS Civic Society (NCS). Which has been selected as a community action project in the Khud Ko Pehchaano program implemented by Greenstar Social Marketing and funded by Punjab Population Innovation Fund. This project meets the Sustainable Development Goal No 3 “Good Health”,4 “Quality Education”,5” Gender Equality”,6” Clean Water and Sanitation”,8 “Good Jobs and Economic Growth”,10” Reduced Inequalities”,11” Sustaiable Cities and Communities”, 16 “Peace and Justice” & 17 “Partnerships for Goals”.

On August 17, 2023, a project has been executed with the facilitation of Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP) at National Library Islamabad. Keeping the slogan of NCS “You Matter” a project has been meticulously designed and mentored by Ms. Saira Javed (Lecturer Clinical Psychologist, NDP/Incharge Psychologist, N-TRC/ Convener, NCS). The project, driven by students, was divided into two teams: Team A led by MPhil Psychology Scholar Ms. Sadaf Arif (with members Ms. Smaha Seher & Ms. Pireh Fareed), and Team B led by BS Psychology Scholar Ms. Kinza Maryum (with member Ms. Anosh Shahid).

In total, 25 individuals with physical disabilities took part in this workshop, with an additional 7 caregivers expressing interest to join the session, upon request. The primary objective of this one- day awareness and training workshop was multifaceted. It aimed to impart knowledge about the menstrual cycle and reproductive health to individuals with physical disabilities, address the distinctive challenges and requirements associated with menstrual hygiene among disabled females, provide accessible and inclusive hands-on training, and establish psychological and social support networks. These support networks aimed to assist individuals with physical disabilities in managing their day-to-day menstrual health matters, including issues like premenstrual syndrome, while also fostering a positive and empowering outlook on menstruation within this specific population.

The comprehensive workshop covered a range of sensitive topics, encompassing reproductive health, the menstrual cycle, hygiene practices, product usage, and the specific needs of differently- abled individuals. The day was enriched with engaging activities such as Muscle Relaxation therapy, stress management balloon exercises, and meditation. These activities not only catered to managing premenstrual syndrome but also provided valuable tools for addressing the everyday stresses encountered by individuals with disabilities.

Adhering to the NUMS commitment of "Zero Waste," the T3ORM team introduced Eco-Friendly Menstrual kits to all participants. Each kit included Cloth Menstrual Pads, a Razor for hair removal, a surf sachet for pad cleaning and reuse, wet napkins for hygiene, chocolate biscuits, and coffee sachets to alleviate premenstrual symptoms. The distinctive feature of these kits was their presentation in clay pots. Participants were encouraged to plant seeds of their choice in these pots, thus fostering a sense of connection with nature that contributed to their psychological well-being.

The participants were greatly intrigued by the innovative and eco-friendly menstrual kits and their unique presentation in ceramic pots. Speaking on behalf of all participants, Ms. Saima Aslam, the focal person for the STEP organization, shared positive feedback that emphasized the need for

more practical hands-on training in the future. She also highlighted the importance of creating smaller support groups to eliminate the social taboo around menstruation ("Red Marks") and expressed the need for initiating a psychological helpline for counseling. These sentiments solidified the event as a successful initiative in heightening awareness about menstrual health within the differently-abled community.

Notable figures who graced the event included Muhammad Atif Sheikh, President of the STEP Organization, who commended the initiative's focus on hygiene education and reproductive health tailored for females with diverse abilities. Mr. Israr Ahmed, Deputy Director of the National Library of Pakistan, served as the Guest of Honor, praising Team T3ORM's efforts, innovation, and the dedication of the mentor, Ms. Saira Javed. He extended a warm welcome to NUMS for future activities at the National Library of Pakistan and concluded the event by presenting certificates to the workshop participants.

The success of the workshop owes gratitude to several key individuals including Prof. Dr. Shazia Khalid (Head of NDP), Dr. Erum Monis (Deputy Director QA NUMS/Gynecologist), Dr. Sadia Mushtaq (Assistant Professor, NDP), and Ms. Saira Javed (Project Mentor). They played pivotal roles in providing pre-event training to student leaders and their teams, ensuring the dissemination of accurate information to the wider community. Special acknowledgment was also extended to

Air Cdre Muhammad Ismail, SI (M), (Retd) Consultant QA, NUMS for sponsoring lunch for the workshop participants. In essence, the workshop stands as a commendable effort to bridge the gap in menstrual health awareness among differently-abled individuals, emphasizing empowerment, inclusivity, and environmental mindfulness.

NUMS Department of Psychology organized an awareness seminar on "Thriving Together: Unleashing the Positivity" aim of promoting a shift towards human strengths, positive individual traits and highlighting the transformative power of mindfulness in our lives. The event featured a diverse range of activities including Engaging Talks, Captivating Skits, Thought-provoking activities, and a Poster presentation competition.

The seminar began with soulful recitation and translation of Surah Al-Duha, Ayat No. 1-10 following National Anthem played during the opening session.

Dr. Sadia Mushtaq, Assistant Professor Psychology and focal person Psych Talk forum, delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing the significance of positivity and the need to focus on human strengths and positive human traits. This set the tone for the engaging TED talks that followed. Ms. Nimra Tahir delivered a thought-provoking talk on "Unleashing the Power of Conscious Awareness," providing practical ways to cultivate mindfulness. Ms. Khadija and Ms. Anosh inspired the audience with their talk "To Live, To Suffer," encouraging them to embrace sad times as they enable true happiness. Ms. Zainab Fatima shed light on the significance of recognizing and appreciating hidden blessings in life through her captivating talk "Hidden Blessings."

Captivating skits were performed to convey powerful messages. One such skit, titled "Life Goes On," narrated by Ms. Khadeeja, emphasized the importance of focusing on the positive aspects of life despite temporary adversities. Another skit, titled "Peace over Anything," highlighted the value of peace and emphasized that pursuing other things in life should not come at the expense of losing this invaluable treasure.

Participants actively engaged in interactive activities designed to foster positivity and gratitude. The "Emo-match" activity allowed participants to exchange compliments and share positive thoughts. In the "Blessing" activity, participants wrote down one thing they considered themselves blessed with, fostering a sense of gratitude.

A captivating documentary titled "Different Perspectives of Psychology" was presented by Ms. Pireh Fareed and Ms. Kinza. The documentary explored various perspectives of psychology, enriching the audience's understanding of the subject.

The poster presentation competition provided participants with a platform to showcase their creativity and knowledge related to positivity under the theme "Thriving Together: Unleashing the Positivity." Handmade and electronic posters were displayed, adding vibrancy to the event.

The Head of the Psychology Department, Professor Dr. Shazia Khalid appreciated the efforts of organizing committee and all the members who were involved on successfully achieved its goal of promoting a shift towards positive psychology. It left participants motivated to unleash the power of positivity in their lives, contributing to their personal growth and well-being. At the end Dr. Erum Monis (Deputy Director Quality Assurance) Distributed certificates to the winners of the poster presentation competition and appreciated the participants.

NUMS Department of Psychology has taken an initiative to address the socio- emotional and wellbeing needs of vulnerable communities in surroundings areas of PWD targeting institutes including orphanage also which are meeting both basic necessities and educational expenses of their children.

Special teams comprising students of NUMS Department of Psychology, led by its Assistant Professor Dr. Sadia Mushtaq, were trained in effective communication and potent demeanor skills before the start of this training session. They were divided into three groups which visited two orphanages for five days and interacted with children on how to strengthen themselves emotionally. The orphanages were reluctant to disclose their identity for reasons of privacy. The activities were conducted to develop their socioemotional, moral and creativity skills.

NUMS Psychology Department organized these visits to give its students, studying Social Work and community development, an idea of community development, and what would be the significance of their role in future in this regard.

The activities included puppet show and puppet making, storytelling, painting and drawing. The children of orphanages were asked to write letters to their friends and teachers and express their love and significance which would develop their vocabulary to expressive their emotions and feelings. To boost the creativity skills, they were involved in puppet making, drawing and paintings. The children were excited to participate in the puppet show. Puppet show and storytelling are a healthy and powerful teaching tools to develop social and emotional strengths of the children. This activity was found very valuable and incredible as the children were enthusiastic. The Department of Psychology would continue these initiatives so that it could contribute to community building.

These training sessions were conducted in accordance with UN Sustainable Development Goals(SDG)6, SDG 3 (Good health and well-being), SDG 4 (Quality education) and 10: Reduced Inequalities. NUMS department of Psychology aims to continue conducting such training sessions in various schools in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Center of Advanced Studies in Health and Technology (CASHT), in collaboration with Riphah International University, IBADAT University, and a few other renowned institutions, conducted the event in the presence of Vice Chancellors from various public sector Universities of Pakistan as well as the chairman and director generals of valuable institutions. The event was executed at Pak-China Friendship Centre, Islamabad, on 22nd December 2022. Ms. Halima Sadia Qureshi (Lecturer, Clinical Psychologist, National University of Medical Sciences) was invited to give a talk as a guest speaker on this prestigious forum linking mental health with one health.

Ms. Halima Sadia Qureshi, after encouragement from the head of department NUMS Department of Psychology (NDP) and approval from higher management of NUMS, delivered her talk on “Co-existing Mental Health Conditions and Noncommunicable Diseases.” She discussed the general idea about NCDs and later identified the indigenous data of people suffering from NCD and its impact on their mental health and vice versa. Also, she discussed the risk factors of NCDs and mental health issues. The comorbidities and multimorbidities of physical and mental health conditions and their impact on the individual’s life were further elaborated. Finally, the causal mechanisms and treatment for NCD and mental health conditions were proposed.

Ms. Halima Sadia Qureshi also concluded the event with closing remarks. She has been presented with a souvenir for her contribution by the worthy Vice Chancellor University of Haripur, Prof. Dr. Shafiq ur Rahman. Honorable VC gave positive feedback regarding the talk and, in the end, announced the poster competition winners as well.

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The City School invited Ms. Halima S. Qureshi to give a talk to the faculty of The City School PWD campus on 3rd November 2022. The talk was related to the individual's self-awareness and helping them improve their personal and professional lives. This talk has given the opportunity to the teachers to understand their maladaptive thoughts leading to unfavourable reactions in daily life. The target of the talk was to teach the required knowledge to the teachers to be self-aware of their emotions, feelings and behaviours to control their consequences.

Participants of the talk had an open opportunity to discuss, which helped the attendees to understand the mechanism involved in self-improvement. Also, the awareness regarding emotional intelligence helped them understand the components of being aware of themselves and utilize their knowledge to understand others. Participants also learned ways of coping and improving their emotional intelligence and situational coping. The positive feedback from the participants at the end of the talk was terrific. The event was concluded with the thank you note and appreciation followed by souvernir to the speaker by the head of the institution

World Mental Health Day 2022 was celebrated by Students of Allied Health Sciences, Semester II of AFPGMI under the mentorship of Ms. Saira Javed ( Lecturer Clinical Psychology/NDP, Incharge Psychologist, N-TRC).

The theme of 2022's World Mental Health Day, set by the World Federation for Mental Health, was 'Make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority'.World Mental Health Day is also a chance to talk about mental health in general, how we need to look after it, and how important it is to talk about things and get help if you are struggling.

In this regard students from the course of Behavioral Sciences (Semester II) at AFPGMI displayed their projects in form of roll plays.

Prof. Dr. Shazia Khalid (Head, NUMS Department of Psychology) was invited as Chief Guest of the event and Ms. Taskeen Mansoor (PhD Scholar, Quaid-i-Azam University) was invited as judge of the event. Total 55 participants took the part in today's event. Whereas, 9 projects where displayed on various burning psychosocial issues which includes:

1. Defamation

2. Broken family

3. Post traumatic stress disorder 

4. Neglected transgenders 

5. Smiling depression

6. Gender discrimination

7.  Bulling

8.  Cyber Harassment and

9.  Gas lighting

Chief guest and judge highly appreciates the efforts of students and mentor. They extended their gratitude to all teams for highlighting such sensitive issues so gracefully and swiftly delivered a message on importance and seriousness of mental health. At the end of the event, certificates were distributed among top three best projects and souvenir were presented to guests and supervisor.

The day was celebrated and projects were displayed in compliance to SDG 3 “Good Health and Wellbeing”, SDG 4 “Quality Education”, SDG 5 “Gender Equality” and SDG 17 “ Partnerships for the Goals”

Awareness Seminar on Her invisible illness was conducted by the students of Psychology Semester III (Roman Jalil, Ifrah Arshad & M. Mukaram Bin Afzal) on 12th May 2022.

Guest Speaker for the event was Dr. Erum Monis (Deputy Director Quality Assurance & Public Health Practitioner, NUMS).

An interactive session took place with students and questions, queries, myths and misconceptions were addressed regarding the 

“Poly cystic ovarian syndrome". PCOS is a hormonal issue and quite common in girls these days. were discussed. 

It was elaborated how a girl faces stress of dysmenorrhea, PMS, depression, weight gain, eating disorders, mood swings alone. She feels embarrassed with symptoms like Hirsutism (excessive growth of dark or coarse hair in a male-like pattern — face, chest and back) and sometimes delayed menarche.

Through this talk an effort was made to spread factual and scientifically correct information regarding the issue which has actually become a taboo. 

Possible options for control of symptoms and various treatment modalities were discussed too. But most importantly the need for peer and family support was highlighted to lessen the psychosocial stressors of the condition on girls.

It was reiterated that generating a discussion around this topic and making more and more people aware of the situation is the only way to normalise behaviour of society towards the females suffering from PCOS. For better biological and psychological wellbeing it is really important to talk about such issues at college and university level for factual guidance. 

This icebreaking seminar was conducted under supervision of Ms. Saira Javed ( Lecturer Clinical Psychology/NDP, Incharge Psychologist, N-TRC).

This program was held in compliance to SDG 3 “Good Health and Wellbeing”, SDG 4 “Quality Education”, SDG 5 “Gender Equality” and SDG 17 “ Partnerships for the Goals”

Keeping the ritual alive of conducting series of training workshops for completion of psychological research projects of  Mid-Career Course of Army Student Officers (Psychologists) Personnel Administration Directorate, AG's Branch, GHQ, Rawalpindi had invited Ms. Saira Javed (Lecturer Clinical Psychology, NDP/Incharge Psychologist, N-TRC) from National University of Medical Sciences on 20th September, 2022 as Resource Person to deliver a Training Workshop on "Psychological Research Writing and Publication". The workshop was held at Armed Forces Post Graduate Medical institute, Rawalpindi. The participants of the workshops were Army Student Officers (Psychologists) from Mid-Career Courses (MCC) batch 09. In the first half of this current training workshop student officers had covered all segments of scientific writing followed by understanding of research ethics in the field of psychology. Since the participants were expected to do their own research project as part of their course a thorough discussion on synopsis of officers and hands of training has been provided to them to fill the gaps of lacking proportion in their proposed research projects. Whereas, the second half of the training workshop was all about article writing according to author guidelines of targeted journals, duties of corresponding author and other elements of article publication.

This workshop was facilitated in compliance with SDG  4 “Quality education”, SDG10 “Reduced Inequality” and SDG 17 “Partnerships for the Goals”

Since August 2019, the Social Sciences Lecture Series at NUMS has been run under the professional guidance of Professor Dr. Azam Chaudhary, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. Whereas, Professor Dr. Shazia Khalid (Head, NUMS Department of Psychology) and Ms. Saira Javed (Lecturer Clinical Psychology, NDP/ Incharge Psychologist, N-TRC) are members of the organizing committee. The prime objective of the series is to engage academicians, practitioners, and visionaries in an intellectual discourse on diverse global and indigenous challenges and discuss effective mechanisms and strategies for social change and transformation.

The 1st seminar under the umbrella of Social Sciences Lecture series were delivered by Dr. Malik Hammad Ahmad (Director, Implementation of Action Plan for Human Rights, Ministry of Human Rights, Pakistan)  on the topic of “Role of Human Rights in Implementation of SDGs 2030 in Pakistan”.

Whereas, 2nd seminar of Social Sciences Lecture series had through light on “Nanoscience and Technology and its Societal Impact” by Pro. Dr. N.M. Butt (Chairperson, Preston Institute of Science and Technology, Islamabad).

This program was held in compliance to SDG  “Good Health and Wellbeing”, SDG 4 “Quality Education”, SDG 16 “Peace Justice and Strong Institute” and SDG 17 “ Partnerships for the Goals”

Session was organized by the students of Department of Psychology Semester III (Jannat Shakir, Mehroosa Shireen, Fizza Rehman) on 9th May 2022, Monday.  

Dr. Saqlein Malik (Doctor of Pharmacy & CRCP, currently working as a lecturer of Clinical Pharmacy at Yusra Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacist in Westridge Hospital) was invited as Guest Speaker. The event started with the Recitation of the Holy Quran by Nimra Tahir followed by Jannat Shakir’s hosting & having a question-answer session with Dr. Saqlein to shed light on this issue. Dr. Malik explained to the audience that more than 88% of people were on self-medication during the Covid Pandemic and the majority comprised of females. He said that Self-Medication starts with Self-Diagnosis. People look up their illnesses online and diagnose their illnesses themselves. He explained that if a person takes a specific painkiller every time they feel pain, they will eventually build immunity to that painkiller and the medicine will no longer work for their body. According to Dr. Malik, a painkiller has three properties; Anti- Inflammatory, Analgesic, and Non-steroidal. Prof. Dr Shazia Khalid (Head NUMS Department of Psychology) also graced the event and informed audience about potential risks of self-medication practices include: incorrect self-diagnosis, delays in seeking medical advice when needed, infrequent but severe adverse reactions, dangerous drug interactions, incorrect manner of administration and incorrect dosage

At the end of the session, all the students thanked Dr. Saqlein Malik and got a group picture together. The event was organized under mentorship of Ms. Saira Javed (Lecturer Clinical Psychology, NDP/Incharge Psychologist N-TRC).

This program was held in compliance to SDG 3 “Good Health and Wellbeing”, SDG 4 “Quality Education”, SDG 5 “Gender Equality” and SDG 17 “Partnerships for the Goals”