News highlights
In its commitment to enhancing university quality of life and promoting a student experience that prioritizes well-being, the Guidance and Counseling Department at the Deanship of Student Affairs at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University delivered a comprehensive set of psychological and social support programs during the past academic year, benefiting more than 17,000 students. These initiatives included 30 workshops, 66 training courses, and 32 dialogue sessions on topics such as prevention of digital addiction, managing test anxiety, digital tools for psychological resilience, and expressive-writing therapy. Additionally, 443 awareness lectures and 282 group-counseling sessions were held under the “Our Couch” initiative, providing a safe and interactive space for students to discuss daily challenges and emotional needs. The Deanship also supported over 60 specialists in social work and psychology through professional-training programs covering psychological first aid, behavioral-risk assessment in crises, early intervention, and designing psychological and preventive programs for university environments, complemented by the issuance of two professional handbooks, an organizational and a procedural guide, to standardize specialist practices across the University. To enhance access to confidential support, the “Malath Student Wellness Office” was launched to offer face-to-face psychological counseling delivered by qualified professionals, helping students manage academic and emotional stress, recognize mental-health concerns, and develop coping strategies. These programs significantly strengthened students’ sense of belonging, increased awareness of mental-health issues, and improved the professional capabilities of counseling staff. The department operates through three units: Psychological and Social Support, Student Rights Protection, and Guidance Services.
