• DEPARTMENT OF HOME SCIENCE
    ST.TERESA’S COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS) ERNAKULAM
    “BE A FRIEND IN CRISIS –EMPOWERING ABUSE VICTIMS”
    WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY (OCT 10
    TH
    , 2020)
    REPORT
    ThedepartmentofHomeScienceandCentreforResearchconductedawebinaras
    part of World Mental Health Day on 10
    th
    October, 2020 in collaboration with Maithri Suicide
    Prevention Helpline. A talk was organised and the topic selected was “BE A FRIEND IN
    CRISIS –EMPOWERING ABUSE VICTIMS” by Adv. Litto Palathingal, trustee of Maithri
    Foundation, Suicide Prevention Helpline.
    The webinar started at 3pm on October 10
    th
    , 2020, Saturday. There were 75
    participants for the webinar. The programme started with a welcome address by Tessa
    Dominic, student of 2
    nd
    MSC. Child Development. Adv. Litto Palathingal was warmly invited
    for the talk on empowering abuse victims. He started with an example and asked the
    participants how they will react when faced with a difficult situation. It was a very
    informative talk where he focused mainly on the importance of listening and communicating
    with the abuse victims. Two main types of victims were also discussed –lonely victims and
    strong responsive victims, some who share their distress with others and some who do not.
    He stressed on how important it is to respect and assure a victim’s ‘confidentiality, privacy
    and anonymity’ which is very uncommon in our society. The importance of assuring the
    victims that ‘we will not judge you’ was also emphasized by the speaker. He also emphasized
    to improve the strength of relationships, focus on being non- judgemental and to break the
    condition of loneliness in others. He also stressed on the importance of listening to the
    worries and troubles of school children. Because, they are the ones who will be left alone in
    today’s busy life.
    The session came to an end by 4pm. It was very informative and worthy. The
    participants were allowed to ask their queries. The speaker explained briefly about the
    functioning of Maithri Foundation, Suicide Prevention Helpline. After the interaction, a video
    on mental health awareness created by the students of 2 nd M.sc.ChildDevelopment was
     released by the speaker. At the end of the webinar, participants were asked to attend a Quiz