QU hosts interprofessional mental health training for students in health disciplines

Tribune News Network

Doha

Qatar University (QU) organised an interprofessional health education activity focused on mental health, bringing together students from various health disciplines to enhance shared learning, develop teamwork skills, and deepen their understanding of the complementary roles of healthcare providers in addressing mental health concerns.

Throughout the session, students engaged in a series of interactive activities, including team-building exercises, profession-identification challenges, guided discussions on mental-health messaging, analysis of a complex clinical case, and the development of community-focused awareness materials.

These activities strengthened students’ understanding of different professional roles and highlighted the importance of shared decision-making and patient-centred care, in alignment with the core competencies of interprofessional education.

Dr. Tanya Kane, associate professor of population medicine at the QU College of Medicine and lead facilitator, highlighted the importance of introducing interprofessional education early in healthcare training. She stated, “Introducing interprofessional education (IPE) early in healthcare training fosters empathy, communication, and a shared understanding of the human experience… This collaborative insight nurtures a more compassionate, holistic approach to mental health—one that supports both patient well-being and practitioner growth.”

Pharmacist and facilitator Mudassar Sheikh reflected on the practical impact of the session, noting, “Participating in the IPE Mental Health activity was a truly rewarding experience… This experience reinforced the importance of interprofessional collaboration in achieving holistic, patient-centred care.”

Student facilitator Zainab Ali Al Jabari, a fourth-year dental hygiene student, stated, “Serving as a student organiser for this activity was one of the most impactful experiences in my academic journey. This role enabled me to foster dialogue across different health disciplines and strengthened my belief that effective mental health care is truly a team effort. This experience represents a commitment to a future in which all healthcare providers work collaboratively as one team to support patient well-being.”

By the end of the session, participants gained confidence in applying interprofessional approaches to mental health across individual and community settings, while deepening their understanding of how shared decision-making and coordinated care improve health outcomes.