BMC's Commitment to Student Mental Health Support

BMC demonstrates an unwavering and holistic commitment to supporting the mental health of every student which is systematic and deeply integrated. It moves beyond mere service provision to actively fostering a resilient and supportive academic community. BMC’s comprehensive and multi-faceted commitment to student's mental health support, demonstrating excellence across key areas, active promotion of good mental health, access to free support, and charged services.

Active Promotion of Good Mental Health

BMC proactively cultivates a campus culture where mental well-being is prioritized, discussed openly, and actively nurtured through a diverse, year-round calendar of events, workshops, and awareness campaigns.

• Institutional-Level Advocacy and Research Promotion:

  • Mental Health Research Forum: A landmark event co-hosted by the Research and Student Welfare Units on Oct 15, 2024. It featured 22 expert speakers, 60 poster presentations, and 8 interactive workshops on topics like AI in mental health, emotional intelligence, and stigma reduction. This forum elevated mental health discourse, fostered interdisciplinary collaboration, and showcased BMC's commitment to advancing the field.

  • Weekly News Magazine: BMC’s official magazine consistently features mental health topics, events, and resources, ensuring ongoing visibility and normalizing conversations about well-being among the student body.

• Educational and Skill-Building Events:

  • Art Therapy Symposium: Hosted by the Art Club on Sept 10, 2024, this event engaged about 300 students in therapeutic activities like clay art, calligraphy, and journaling to promote self-expression, improve emotional health, and build psychological resilience.

  • Mindfulness Discussion Panel: Organized by the Medicine Program and Student Welfare Unit on Sept 12, 2024, this panel featured experts and provided medical students with practical, evidence-based mindfulness strategies to manage academic stress, prevent burnout, and build emotional resilience.

  • Identity and Self-Discovery Workshop: This workshop held on Oct 22, 2024 and used psychological principles and reflective exercises to help students build self-awareness, a stronger sense of identity, and emotional confidence.

  • Yoga Class: Conducted on Nov 24, 2024 by a certified instructor, this session provided students with a practical tool for relaxation and mental focus, celebrating World Mental Health Day.

• Community-Wide Awareness Campaigns:

  • World Mental Health Day Initiatives: On Oct 2024, the General Medicine Program ran a comprehensive campaign offering self-assessment screenings (e.g., PHQ-9, GAD-7) via QR codes, displaying educational statistics, and distributing resources.

  • Student-Led Initiatives: Events like "How to be an Influencer" (Oct 2024) and "Pet Therapy Day" (Feb 2025) creatively promoted mental wellness through community connection, peer support, and positive messaging.

Access to Free Mental Health Support

BMC ensures that all students have direct, confidential, and cost-free access to professional mental health services through its dedicated, institutional structures.

• Centralized, Free Clinical Services: Student Welfare Unit & Psychological Clinic: This is the cornerstone of BMC's support system. The unit is staffed by qualified professionals and psychologists. It provides:

  • Free, confidential individual and group counseling for issues ranging from academic stress and anxiety to personal development.

  • Initial Psychological Assessments & Screenings, as demonstrated by the "Mental Health Screening Assessment" (Nov 2024) which connected 200 students with professional consultants for early intervention.

  • A safe, open-door policy that encourages students to "seek assistance when needed," with several students seeking further guidance after events.

• Proactive Outreach and Early Intervention: The Mental Health Screening Assessment (Nov 2024) is a prime example of proactively providing free access to support. In collaboration with the Roshd Psychological Consultation Centre, this event offered initial assessments to identify students in need and connect them directly with professionals for continued, free consultation.

• Peer Support and Holistic Support Channels: The Student Welfare Unit promotes holistic well-being through activities like fitness classes and animal-assisted therapy, all offered free of charge to students as part of a comprehensive wellness model.

Access to Charged Mental Health Support

BMC has established a robust network of external partnerships to ensure students requiring specialized, intensive, or long-term care are seamlessly directed to appropriate professional services.

Formal partnerships with specialized centers by which BMC maintains active collaborations with leading mental health and rehabilitation centers. The Mental Health Research Forum involved partnerships with 11 external organizations, including Quweem Centers for Addiction and Rehabilitation; National Center for Mental Health; Eitzan Center; Sajeyyah Rehabilitation Center; and Roshd Rehabilitation Center. These partners represent a referral network for students who may require specialized treatment beyond the scope of the on-campus clinic.

The collaboration with Roshd Psychological Consultation Centre for the screening event is a direct example of creating a bridge between free on-campus assessment and external professional services, ensuring a continuum of care and guaranteeing that BMC students have vetted pathways to access charged, specialized support when needed.