“The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.”
As a part of the Summer Internship Program, the psychology students of grades 11 and 12 participated in the Fortis School Mental Health Program. A hands-on mental health project within the hospital set up under the guidance of the Fortis Hospitals team of mental health professionals. The goal was to provide simulation and hands-on learning under expert guidance.
After orientation to Psychological Interviewing, learning therapeutic skills Students were told about Spectrum of Mental Disorders: Developing a clinical understanding, the factors which lead to such disorders, the symptoms, the way a patient should be handled and the course of therapy to be provided. Students also learned about the spotlight effect, the illusion of transparency, social pressure, conformity, the bystander effect, etc. Students were briefed about the Therapeutic Approaches, psychological interventions, various therapies and psychological interviewing which laid emphasis on how the psychological interviews should be conducted and about the conversation between the therapist and the patient. The last session concluded with Community Mental Health and how we as professionals in the field can give back to the community. In an activity, students were also made to practice how to take a Case Study and Mental Status Examination.
Overall the students had an amazing once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience interning at Fortis Hospital.
