In recognition of the University's commitment to student wellness, the Student Affairs Department has established the Student Success and Wellbeing Section. This section is dedicated to supporting all SUAD students by offering bespoke programs and activities that promote their overall wellbeing and academic success. The goal is to help students realize their full potential, work productively, and effectively achieve both academic and personal goals, ultimately contributing to a positive student experience at SUAD.

Key Objectives of the Student Success and Wellbeing Section

• Foster an inclusive environment that respects and values the diversity, beliefs, and abilities of each student.
• Provide tailored support and guidance to assist students in managing emotional, social, academic, and behavioural challenges throughout their SUAD journey. 

Services for Students of Determination

The University is committed to providing accessible and supportive services for Students of Determination. These services include:

• Specially equipped rooms in both male and female residences.
• Allocated parking spaces and designated washroom facilities.
• Elevator access in all buildings and evacuation chairs for emergency situations. 

The Success and Wellbeing Section of the Student Affairs Department also is committed to ensuring that all students, especially those with special needs, receive the necessary support to thrive academically and personally. This support includes:

• Psychological and psychiatric evaluations.
• Support interventions and behavioral therapy provided by professional counsellors.
• Comprehensive Support and Reasonable Accommodations: We strive to provide a range of tailored services, including counseling, peer tutoring, mentoring, and appropriate accommodations during examinations and assessments. Our primary objective is to ensure that students can fully participate in both academic and extracurricular activities by offering reasonable adjustments, such as alternative assessment methods, extra time, and separate classrooms during exams and accessible facilities. 

To ensure that the university’s support services align with best practices, SUAD established a collaboration with the Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination (ZHO). This partnership resulted in an accessibility evaluation report shared with the University in 2021. The findings of this report were communicated to the General Services Department, ensuring compliance with the Abu Dhabi International Accessibility Standards and international best practices. 

By prioritising student wellness and accessibility, SUAD aims to create an environment where every student can thrive academically, personally, and professionally. 

In addition to general medical assistance and healthcare, the Counselling office offers consultation services for students to handle non-academic lifestyle and mental health issues such as stress, sleep, or eating disorders, loneliness, depression, etc. The service is provided by professionals specialized in student’s needs. It aims to help students adjust to new circumstances of university life and relate to the environment in a more productive manner. All counselling information remains private and confidential.

During the exam period, a thoughtful initiative was undertaken to support the well-being of approximately 400 students enrolled in the FLE and bachelor's programs. The strategy involved the distribution of cookies accompanied by motivational messages, creating a positive and uplifting atmosphere for the students. Additionally, an on-spot registration facility for S&W services was made available, providing students with convenient access to essential resources and support. Alongside this, stress relief sessions with a dedicated counsellor were organized on the spot, aiming to alleviate exam-related anxieties and foster mental well-being.

This training is one of the fastest-growing evidence-based behavioural therapies, with demonstrated effectiveness for both adults and adolescents, ACT stands out due to its broad applications across the spectrum of mental health issues, especially for anxiety, mood, and eating disorders. ACT combines aspects of mindfulness and acceptance with behavioural interventions, emphasizes values as the compass for our behaviours, and incorporates skills to help clients unhook from negative thought patterns. Participants gain an in-depth understanding of the ACT Hexaflex model in adults and adolescents, learn various tools and techniques used in ACT therapy, and acquire the knowledge of how to apply ACT skills when supporting both adults and adolescents. This is a certified training by The Lighthouse Arabia, and this year, DHA provided 6.5 CME points.

To help new students transition to university life, covering topics like managing homesickness, building routines, and balancing academics and social life. It also introduced campus resources to support mental and physical wellbeing, fostering a sense of belonging and confidence for new students joining the SUAD community.

This talk helped students transform personal pain into a source of purpose. It aimed to raise awareness, promote hope, and encourage meaningful action to support mental health and suicide prevention. Attendees learned strategies for resilience and heard empowering stories of recovery and purpose-driven living.

Breaking Down Myths: Psychoactive Substance Misconceptions & Detoxification: A talk that focused on the prevention of drugs and alcohol abuse or any other related information and raised awareness amongst students on the dangers of these substances. 

A talk entitled Mental Health and Wellbeing in University Life: Recognizing Challenges and Promoting Wellness was held to discuss challenges faced by university students while providing them with tools to overcome and face those challenges. 

This talk was followed by a panel discussion on Navigating ADHD and Mental Health in the social media Era – Distinguishing Professional Help from Trends and Misinformation

Activity focused on the definition of bullying, personality traits of a bully, how to respond to bullying and much more. It was followed by an anti-bullying art and thoughts in a jar activity.

Peer Mentor Activity: On World Kindness Day, peer mentors and mentees came together to spread kindness across campus. They collaborated on thoughtful initiatives, such as sharing appreciation notes and small tokens of kindness, creating a warm and inclusive community atmosphere. The activity highlighted the impact of simple acts in fostering connection and positivity

This event began with a comedy session that used humour to address mental health challenges and break stigma. It was followed by an insightful talk on stress, where participants learned practical strategies for managing stress and maintaining emotional balance, creating a perfect blend of laughter and learning.

Talk on Sexual Education, designed to promote safety, respect, and confidence

The talk defined sexual education and its purpose: to promote safety, respect, and make informed choices, It explained how to prevent harassment and abuse, highlighting the importance of addressing harassment,