NSU Hosts Awareness Session on Burnout Management and Mental Wellbeing. North South University (NSU) Counseling and Wellbeing Center (CWC) and MBA & EMBA Programs, with the support of the MBA Club, organized an awareness session titled “Running on Empty: Managing Burnout and Protecting Mental Health in Work, Life and Study” on 15 June 2026 (Monday). The session brought together students, faculty members, staff, and working professionals to address the growing challenge of burnout and its impact on academic, professional, and personal life.
Dr. Nahid Siddiqui, Consultant Psychiatrist at Ramsay Health Clinic in Australia, was the facilitator, and Ms. Atia Masuda Bilkis, a counselor at CWC specializing in Industrial and Clinical Psychology, was the co-facilitator. They discussed the unique context and challenges of Bangladeshi graduate students. How juggling study, job, family, and personal life together creates consistent stress.
Dr. Nahid Siddiqui explained the nature of burnout, its warning signs, and its relationship with stress, depression, and anxiety. She clarified that while stress can sometimes be motivating, unmanaged, prolonged stress can lead to burnout, resulting in emotional exhaustion, reduced motivation, and physical health concerns. Drawing on both research and practical experience, she encouraged participants to adopt a holistic approach to wellbeing through self-awareness, healthy routines, supportive relationships, and timely help-seeking.
Participants also explored the context of burnout among students and working professionals in Bangladesh, learned evidence-based coping strategies, and took part in an interactive mindfulness exercise designed to promote stress management and emotional resilience.
Professor Dr. Nazlee Siddiqui, Director of MBA & EMBA Programs, in her welcome remarks emphasized the importance of prioritizing personal wellbeing amidst the demands of academic and professional life. She encouraged participants to remain mindful of their own mental health and to support the wellbeing of those around them.
Addressing the audience, Professor Dr. AKM Waresul Karim, Dean of the School of Business and Economics, highlighted that burnout is an increasingly common challenge affecting individuals across different age groups and professions. He noted that prolonged stress can significantly affect productivity, performance, and overall quality of life, underscoring the importance of proactively addressing mental health.
The event concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session and closing remarks by Professor Dr. Abdul Khaleque, Proctor. While explaining the neurochemistry of stress, he encouraged the audience to maintain sleep hygiene. He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to fostering a supportive and mentally healthy campus environment.
Through initiatives such as this, NSU continues to demonstrate its dedication to promoting mental health awareness, enhancing student wellbeing, and equipping members of the university community with practical tools to navigate the challenges of academic, professional, and personal life.