Near East College Journal Club, which aims to encourage students to develop their philosophical perceptions and consider the life in a philosophical dimension and asses the social and global issues with different perspectives, organized an event devoted to raising awareness on mental health. Within the scope of the event, Near East College Journal Club students visited Barış Psychiatric Hospital in Nicosia.

The Directorate of Press and Public Relations Office of Near East University released that Near East College Journal Club students, who had initiated works grounded on the principle of gaining skills regarding thinking, developing ways of thinking, and tackling the issues with different point of views, visited Dr. Abidin Akbirgül, the Chief Physician of Nicosia Barış Psychiatric Hospital, in his office and received information about the hospital and the patients.

Expressing that the hospital currently provided mental healthcare for 98 inpatients, almost two third of whom were chronic and one third of whom were acute patients, Dr. Akbirgül underlined the necessity of raising public awareness. “Raising public awareness about mental health problems is the start of the process of tackling them. Besides, the patients, who are in good conditions, should be provided with treatment on outpatient basis without being isolated from the society" noted he.

Then, the students visited the inpatient wards, where chronic patients consisting of women and men received regular treatment, and delivered the clothes collected via the campaign organized by the club. The students also had opportunity to see the products and handcrafts by visiting the art workshop, where the patients commonly spent time and create something within the day.