Women Safety and Mental Health: Time to Rethink

The department of psychology, IIS University (Deemed to be university, Jaipur),in collaboration with thethe Counselling and Career Development Centreorganised a webinar on occasion of the Mental Health Week on 10^th October, 2020. The speaker for the webinar was Dr. Rejani. T.G.

Dr. Rejani has an enriching experience as a researcher for around two decades. At present she is a faculty member and the head of the department of Clinical psychology at Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Hospital. Dr. Rejani has accomplished various awards her way; she has been titled Fellow in U.S. She has also edited a variety of books which have been well referred in the United States.

Professor Rejani is recognized as one of the first researchers to explore studies on ‘sexual abuse’ and ‘violence against women’.

Dr. Rejani started off her lecture by sharing an anecdote that leads her to ponder over the growing abuses in our country against women. She quoted a real life incident of her client and stated how disappointed she was to realize that there is no safe haven for women even in the eyes of her own mother. Professor T.G hereon was so moved by the client’s ordeal that she decided to work for the betterment of women.

She went on further and threw light on the concept of ‘Sexual abuse’ wherein she wonderfully enlightened the participants about what it means and how wrongfully we perceive it culturally.

The speaker did not skip a chance to keep the audience on edge as she further clarified the nuances of our society with regard to sexual assaults. Quoting an international study, Dr. Rejani said that, “It isn’t just women but men get raped, too”. She also focused on the statistical coverage of the assaults that happen against both men and women worldwide.

The audience got a sterling opportunity to understand the various theories and interventions related to assaults.

By the end of the session, Dr. Rejani raised a question which surely left the audience to “Re-think” about whether out judicial and social system actually does justice for the welfare of women in our society.

The session was also open to a few queries that the audience was curious to knowregarding women safety to which Dr. Rejani gave her unbiasedviews. "How should one deal if the assaulter is a member of the faculty of the college itself?, asked one of the participants to which Dr. Rejani beautifully explained the ordeals a woman mayhave to go through in situations like these. She also explained how the law system of the country isn't trained enough and the current requisite is to fix the position of the concerned authorities so as to help reduce such heinous crimes.

The speaker as an ending note highlighted upon what all should be changed and what all we, as psychologists, can do better to amend the failing systems of our society.

It was truly a very enriching and interesting session wherein the audience got such a delightful opportunity to hear from such an eminent speaker as Dr. Rejani.