18/11/2020
YAY !!!!! IYD 2020 A Step Forward - global conversation on mental health. What a wonderful experience.
SAI International School conducted an online International Youth Day (IYD) with 11 countries on Sunday, November 15, 2020. They choose a topic of importance to the youth to talk about the issues to bring about a change in the minds of the people and how they feel about it. The topic this year was A Step Forward: A Global Conversation on Mental Health. Guests of imminence delivered their valuable speech on the occasion.
The opening session was preceded by Dr Harish Shetty, a Psychiatrist with extensive experience in the field of mental health especially in connection with disasters. He is a governing body member of the NTA appointed by the Government of India. He was overwhelmed with joy to see students from across the globe attending the seminar he said, " Students from different countries under one platform is the finest ' peace gene ' for promoting harmony across the globe. Dialogue on ' mental health ', helps instill resilience and self -awareness early in life. With such programs SAI International is helping build ' empathy ' across the universe".
While in the closing session Dr. Sriya Bhattacharyya, Psychologist, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Health Equity at Harvard Medical School and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, USA. While delivering her speech she said that, "it is a beautiful and important program - A Step Forward brought youth from around the world together to discuss Mental Health and develop plans to solve complex problems. I am impressed by the bravery, self awareness, and comprehensive solutions from the students. They give me hope for the future of all our mental and emotional health around the world."
Dr Bijaya Kumar Sahoo, Founder and Mentor SAI International School, thanked the guest speakers for their valuable talks. Dr Sahoo also delivered a talk on "Happiness at Home", followed by an interactive session with the students. He said a positive and a happy mindset can do wonders, if practiced fully. He was happy to host the 11 countries at SAI International IYD 2020 celebrations with a cause much needed for the millennial.
Besides the Opening and Closing Sessions students were divided into 12 groups called Barazzas and each barazza had a theme to discuss. The theme for the Barazza groups was focused on mental health issues faced by today's youth, themes include Body Image, OCD, Bullying, Self-esteem, PTSD, ADHD, Gender Bias, COVID 19, Depression, Racial Stereotypes, Anxiety, Parentification. During the Barazza participants will have open discussions on mental health issues they are facing in their respective country they will have short debates and write a resolution on how to bring light to mental health issues in their homes and local communities. All the ideas discussed will be compiled into an e-book and will be shared between all participating schools.
