Psychological and Digital Support Clinics Target Media Students at Taiz University

The Yemeni Media Freedoms Observatory (Marsadak), affiliated with the Studies and Economic Media Center (SEMC), launched on Sunday the “Safe Space” campaign in cooperation with Taiz University, represented by the Department of Media at the Faculty of Arts. The initiative includes psychological and digital support clinics aimed at providing counseling and guidance sessions for male and female students of the Department of Media in particular, as well as other departments within the faculty, over a period of two days.

The event, held on Sunday and Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (Yemen time), offers direct practical support to students in coping with psychological stress, preventing digital risks, and strengthening cybersecurity and online safety skills. This comes amid rapid transformations in the media and digital space, along with the accompanying challenges that affect the mental health and professional safety of journalists and media students.

The event witnessed notable engagement and attendance from both male and female students, reflecting the level of interest in issues of psychological support and digital safety, as well as the need to expand such initiatives within academic institutions.

During the launch, the Editor-in-chief of the Yemeni Media Freedoms Observatory (Marsadak), Khalil Kamil, stressed that this event responds to the growing need to enhance a safe and supportive environment for media students. He highlighted the importance of field-based activities whose impact is directly felt by students, whether those already practicing journalism or those still at the beginning of their academic and professional journey.

He noted that the Studies and Economic Media Center (SEMC) places students of media colleges and departments among its top priorities across its projects and training programs, allocating up to 20 percent of its focus to them, given their role in building a more aware and qualified media generation. He also urged students to benefit from the psychological and digital support sessions throughout the event.

For his part, Psychologist Dr. Jamil Al-Qudsi emphasized the importance of addressing psychological stress amid the evolving media environment and working conditions in journalism. He stressed the need for practical application of tools and techniques that help reduce psychological pressure and mitigate its impact, thereby positively reflecting on professional performance and the mental well-being of those working and studying in the media field.

Digital Security Specialist Hussam Al-Waziry highlighted the importance of digital awareness as the first line of defense against risks and vulnerabilities in the digital world. He noted that journalists and media students increasingly need to acquire digital safety skills, including protecting social media accounts, securing digital identity and footprint, verifying official applications, enabling two-factor authentication, and using password management tools, among other protection mechanisms aligned with technological developments.

In a statement on behalf of the “Safe Space” campaign team, team member Ayman Faraj affirmed that the campaign is based on the firm belief that digital security is no longer a luxury but a necessity. He explained that a strong password may not only protect an account, but may also safeguard a journalistic source, sensitive information, or privacy related to media work, especially amid growing digital threats.

The event continues over two days, with a psychologist and a digital specialist present daily for three hours, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., to provide consultations and psychological and digital support sessions for students of the Department of Media and other departments within the Faculty of Arts, enhancing their awareness and ability to deal with psychological pressures and digital risks associated with their academic and professional environment.