Mangaluru: Shanthi Kiran Counseling Centre (SKCC) of the city's Catholic diocese organised guidance workshops for teachers, parents and students from July 21 to August 2. The workshops kept the thrust on student-teacher relationship, student–parent relationship and integral development of children/adolescents.

The workshops were organised at St Lawrence School, Bondel; Infant Mary School, Katipalla; St Joseph and St Bridgit Schools, Sullia and St Monica School Kumbla-Kasargod. All the staff and students participated in the workshops and gained expertise and practical help in guiding the students. Fr Arun Lobo, director SKCC and Dr Bhagyashree Bhandary, associate professor, Justice K S Hegde Academy, Deralakatte were the resource persons. The modules presented were: understanding children/ adolescents and their behaviour, mental ill-health conditions experienced by children/adolescents, effect of social networking sites and social media on young minds, effect of physical abuse, sexual abuse and substance abuse on child/ adolescent behavior, role of a teacher/ parent in child/ adolescent development, soft skills needed for a teacher/ parent to deal ‘z generation’, interpersonal relationship/ communication skills, stress management and anger management.

SKCC has planned to extend these services to the schools and institutions of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasargod districts. Many schools have already completed this workshop in this academic year.

SKCC also offers counselling services for individuals. Specialized services included are for depression, obcessive compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders, adjustment difficulties, addictions, stress management and anger management. The centre offers guidance counselling, adolescent and youth counselling, couple counselling, family counselling and referrals to psychiatrists, psychologists and other health professionals according to the need of the individual. The centre is at Shanthi Kiran, Nanthoor. Contact details are: 8105681256, email: frarunlobo@gmail.com