Universitas Dian Nuswantoro (Udinus) once again showed its commitment to supporting its students’ well-being through a mental health seminar entitled ‘Self-Love: Caring for Oneself and Building Healthy Relationship,’ The event was hosted by the Udinus Career Center, with a total of 300 students from Udinus and other universities, on Monday, February 24, 2025.
The seminar took place in the auditorium on the third floor of the E building at Udinus. Not only was it a seminar, but there was also a forum group discussion discussion involving all participants. The event was opened with an opening speech from Vice Rector III of Student Affairs of Udinus, Prof. Dr. Dra. Kusni Ingsih, M.M.
During her speech, Prof. Kusni emphasized the importance of providing students with general knowledge about mental health from a young age. According to her, Gen Z students have various characteristics and challenges, making them vulnerable to mental disorders. For that reason, Udinus has provided several nurturing services, including academic counselors, the Rumah Sahabat Student Activity Unit, and the Psychologist Team at the Udinus Career Center.
“Through this seminar, we want to encourage students to understand how to take care of themselves and develop healthy relationships. We want to ensure that students will get sustaining support, even after they graduate,” she uttered.
After the seminar, Dr. Herbertus Himawan, S.Kom., M.Kom., explained that the Udinus Career Center was part of a routine program aiming to develop students’ mental readiness. He highlighted that mental durability was among the most important aspects for students to face challenges in academic settings or workplaces.
“Initially, this program was only focused on senior students, but as time went on, we realized that mental disorders were also generally experienced by all students regardless of their academic years. Through this seminar, we are committed to shaping students in a way they can face challenges,” he added.
Understanding the Concept of Love Power
The seminar featured Dr. Putri Marlenny P., M.Psi., a psychologist, who was also the Coordinator of the Rumah Duta Revolusi Program initiated by the Education Service of Semarang. On that occasion, she encouraged students to understand the concept of Love Power, namely, the concept of loving oneself can impact their happiness and more healthy social relationships.
She continued that Self-love didn’t mean selfish or self-centered, but it was more like how one knows their emotions, maintains boundaries, and nurtures both mental and physical well-being.
“In this seminar, I will share several strategies to process stress by using healthy coping mechanism approaches, including journaling, meditation, and seeking professional help if needed. Hopefully, students will be able to understand the importance of their well-being,” she concluded. (Humas Udinus/Alex. Foto: Humas Udinus)
