GCU Lahore has set up a tele-counselling center which offers free online services to people who deal with anxiety, tension, fear or any other psychological problems resulting from global coronavirus pandemics and lock-outs at home.
The Center, founded with the support of the University Psychology Department (Clinic Psychology Unit), was completed by GCU Vice Chancellor Dr Asghar Zaidi, who would be formally inaugurated on Thursday (today) by Chancellor Chaudhry Mahomet Sarwar, Chancellor of the Punjab Governor.
He said the Governor Corona Helpline Call Centre would also refer patients with psychological issues to GCU’s Mental Health Helpline. Prof Zaidi said the cell-phone numbers of the university’s qualified psychologists were also posted on the university’s website and social media accounts along with their availability timings.
The VC said the GCU tele-counselling centre would provide counselling services to relieve the effects of stress and anxiety management, management of isolation anxiety, building resilience, coping with activity restriction, dealing with Hypochondria and Cyber-chondria and supportive psychotherapy for dealing with illness anxiety and fear.
He said initially five senior clinical psychologists would provide counselling services from 9am to 9pm Monday to Thursday. They will be part of the tele-medicine corona helpline (0304–1112101)
The VC advised people in such times of uncertainty, avoid speculations about the pandemic on social media, keep yourself busy with activities, write e-letters to your family and friends, engage yourself with books, watch movies and above all try to help others which, he believed, was the best way to counter hopelessness, anxiety, depression or fear.
