Mangalore : School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya concluded its three day UGC-sponsored international conference on ‘women and mental health’ held at college on Thursday October 30.
The conference was organized by School of Social, Roshni Nilaya, and Flinders University, Australia.

M Veerappa Moily, Union Minister for Law and Justice delivered the valedictory address on the occasion. He said that Roshni Nilaya is second college in the city and the first in the field of social work to have been recognised as a research centre by the Mangalore University.
He further clarified that the college has been given this recognition owing to its infrastructure, research faculty and labs. He also said that, there was a social dishonour regarding mental health in the country and the need of the hour is to facilitate open discussion on the issue.

As a result women’s literacy rate has grown over the three decades and the growth of female literacy has in fact been higher than that of male literacy rate. The government has taken various measures to provide education to all Indian women, he added.
The conference discussed largely on the issues such as women in depression, anxiety, psychological distress, sexual violence and domestic violence largely affect women than men across different countries and different regions.
Pressures created by women’s multiple roles, gender discrimination and associated factors of poverty, hunger, malnutrition, overwork domestic violence and sexual abuse; combine to account for women’s poor mental health were also discussed.

Dr Olinda Periera, former principal of the College was the chief guest on the occasion. Vinay Kumar Sorake was the guest of honour at the conference.
Dr. Jacintha D’Souza Principal, SSW, Roshni Nilaya welcomed the gathering and guests. Dr. Rameela Shekhar, organizing Secretary, ICWMH and Dean, SSW, Roshni Nilaya proposed vote of thanks.
Dr. Mubarak A.R (Senior Lecturer, SSW, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia) was present.