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The Women's Support and Anti-Violence Unit at Ain Shams University launched the "Your Life Matters" initiative for self-care and stress management. This initiative reflects the university's commitment to promoting mental health and improving the quality of life for its employees, as well as supporting their ability to cope positively with life and work pressures.

The initiative was launched under the auspices of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University; Prof. Amany Osama, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research; Prof. Rami Maher, Vice President for Education and Student Affairs; and Major General Ahmed Lashin, Secretary General of the University. It was organized in cooperation with the Training and Talent Development Department of the university's administrative body.

The initiative targeted a number of male and female administrative staff members across various university departments. The first and second phases were implemented in three groups during July and August, with significant participation and engagement from attendees. The third phase is scheduled for September at Campus B of the Faculty of Business at Ain Shams University.

The initiative's activities were inaugurated by Prof. Hind El-Hilali, Director of the Women's Support and Anti-Violence Unit at Ain Shams University, who emphasized the importance of implementing the "Your Life Matters" initiative. She highlighted its role in supporting staff and enhancing their ability to cope with the pressures of life and work, which positively impacts the quality of life and work environment within the university.

The university's Women's Support and Anti-Violence Unit also reviewed its role, highlighting the services, training programs, and awareness initiatives it offers to promote psychological and social awareness and provide a healthy and safe work environment.

The initiative's launch was attended by Prof. Gihan Ragab, Advisor to the General Supervisor of the Community Observatory Portal and Advisor to the Dean of the Faculty of Business.

Quality of Life and Self-Care

Prof. Sohair Safwat, Head of the Sociology Department at the Faculty of Education, Ain Shams University, and Consultant to the Women's Support and Anti-Violence Unit, addressed the first theme of the initiative, "Quality of Life and Self-Care." She discussed the concept of psychological stress, its sources, and its effects on mental and physical health. She also covered self-care strategies, building psychological resilience, and methods for positive coping with stress, through a series of practical exercises and applications that helped participants acquire skills applicable to their daily lives.

In the second theme, "Effective Parenting and Creating Psychological Security," she presented the foundations of modern parenting, conscious parenting skills, the importance of building a supportive family environment, and creating psychological security for children, contributing to raising children with self-confidence and emotional balance.

Self-Care and Stress Management

Dr. Amani Abdel-Aal, a clinical psychologist and art therapist at the Women's Support and Anti-Violence Unit at Ain Shams University, participated in the initiative. She presented the third session, titled "Self-Care and Stress Management," covering emotional regulation skills, coping with work and life pressures, and enhancing psychological resilience. She also conducted several practical exercises to develop participants' stress management skills more effectively.

The initiative concluded with a session on "Balanced Positive Parenting," also presented by Dr. Amani Abdel-Aal. This session addressed effective and safe communication skills with children, achieving a balance between firmness and support, the impact of psychological security on a child's personality development, and problem-solving mechanisms. Practical models and applications that can be implemented within the family were also presented.

The various aspects of the initiative witnessed great interaction from the participants, who showed clear interest in the scientific content and practical training provided, confirming their benefit from the skills covered by the initiative. The participants also called for the organization of more specialized programs and initiatives in the fields of mental health, stress management and family skills development, due to their positive impact on their personal and professional lives.

Prof. Hind El-Hilali, Executive Director of the Women's Support and Anti-Violence Unit at Ain Shams University, affirmed that the "Your Life Matters" initiative falls within the unit's role in disseminating psychological and social awareness, enhancing quality of life, and supporting a healthy and safe work environment for all university members. This is achieved through specialized programs that address employee needs and keep pace with contemporary societal challenges. She noted the unit's continued commitment to implementing programs and activities aimed at supporting and empowering employees and promoting their psychological and social well-being.