SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
3.3.7 Mental Health Support for Staff
Mental Health Support for Faculty and Staff
The American University of the Middle East (AUM) provides faculty and staff with access to mental health support though various means, mainly:
Offering counseling services for Faculty and Staff: This is achieved through the role of the Counseling and Wellness Center, including ongoing communications from orientation to graduation and beyond. When needed, signposting is recommended to access charged support and specialized care.
Partnerships with external mental health providers offering discounted rates.
Actively promoting good mental health and reminding faculty and staff to focus on positive thinking: This is mainly achieved through mental health awareness campaigns and workshops encouraging mental well-being, mindfulness, coping mechanisms and proactive self-care.
Insurance for Faculty and Staff supporting mental health care and Financial support for professional and personal development
Actively promoting good mental health and reminding students to always focus on their abilities and positive thinking
Reminding students to always focus on their abilities
While walking in AUM buildings, motivational and empowering quotes are everywhere on the walls calling all the community members to stay motivated and strong, and overcome any kind of challenge in life. The University also launches competitions for the best photo taken at their choice of quote on a wall.
Faculty and Staff spending quality time with families on campus
On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, AUM launched campaign through social media to raise awareness on mental health issues and educate people to take care of their mental health (10 October 2022).
The Staff Development Department at the American University of the Middle East (AUM) organized a workshop titled “Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace” for staff at the AUM Cultural Center on February 17, 2022.
The workshop was delivered by AUM Faculty Dr. Dina Said and the Head of Staff Development Ms. Sareh Rotabi and comes as part of a series of professional development opportunities provided exclusively to AUM staff.
During the workshop, attendees learned more about the fundamentals of emotional intelligence, self-awareness and self-management techniques, and strategies that focus on fostering empathy and communication with others in an emotionally intelligent way.
An e-certificate was provided upon completion of the workshop to all participants.
The American University of the Middle East (AUM) hosted a virtual event on Wednesday, September 29, 2021, featuring Michael Massimino, a former NASA Astronaut and a Columbia University Engineering Professor, as a keynote speaker.
The event titled “Follow Your Dreams, Reach for the Stars” was attended by AUM students, alumni, faculty, and staff. During the event, Mike inspired the AUM community through sharing stories about his successful journey to become an astronaut and the challenges he faced along the way and during the space missions.
This event came in line with AUM’s efforts to reinforce students’ skillset and nurture their mindset through exposing them to inspiring people who made a difference in the world.
A veteran of two space shuttle missions and four spacewalks, Mike was the first person to tweet from space, holds the team record for the most spacewalking time on a single space shuttle mission, and successfully completed the most complicated spacewalk ever attempted to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.
AUM Supports Women and Sports by Strategically Sponsoring RoadRush
The American University of the Middle East (AUM) participated as a Strategic Sponsor in RoadRush, the biggest event in Kuwait for female professional racers as part of the university's social responsibility to empower women and support talent.
RoadRush is the first women’s racing team in the Middle East, established in 2011, by five female Kuwaiti women. Every year, RoadRush organizes a big festival that comprises racing and motorsports challenges for female professional drivers, in addition to a concert and family activities.
The objective behind the annual festival and the RoadRush community is to showcase women’s potential in areas such as extreme sports and to empower female talent by giving them a platform to showcase their skills in motorsports.
AUM Faculty Gokce Sincer also participated as a professional racer in the RoadRush challenge.
The American University of the Middle East (AUM) participated in the 10th International Conference on Women Leaders in Science, Technology and Engineering (WLSTE+10) hosted by the Kuwait Foundation for the Development of Sciences (KFSA). The conference was held under the patronage of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, in the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development in Kuwait in collaboration with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the US State Department.
AUM faculty, Dr. Elda Cina and Dr. Wiem Abdelbaki, attended the conference as well as AUM students Razan Al Far and Rand Younes, who had the opportunity to share their future plans with other participants, and take part in the “Starting Career Outside Academia” workshop held during the conference.
AUM‘s participation in the conference comes in view of its firm belief in the role of women in leadership, and the success women inspire in the different fields of science. AUM’s vision for a strong community stands on the importance of empowering women and allowing them access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education so that they can lead successful roles in any sector and industry.
AUM’s continuous efforts in developing an educated and responsible generation answer an educational philosophy that encourages women to showcase their scientific skills and proficiency so they can have a prosperous career and help build a better future.
The conference focused on emerging insights that can motivate sustainable solutions and expand women networking platforms in Kuwait and around the world.
Special Covid-19
The rise in popularity of podcasts became a worldwide trend during the pandemic especially as AUM always looks for ways to stay connected with its students, alumni, staff and community. AUM launched the series of AUM podcasts designed to tackle topics and themes that share compelling stories featuring different topics and themes on well-being, mental health and celebration of happy moments.
Awareness campaigns on social media
During the pandemic, AUM has been regularly launching social media campaigns to raise awareness among the students and the community on how to stay safe, healthy and motivated. These campaigns include sharing various tips on physical and mental health and well-being. Below is a selected campaign launch on social media:
كيف تحافظ على صحتك النفسية في الأوقات الصعبة؟
ماذا تعلّمنا في هذه الأزمة؟
