Counselling Services

Message from the Regional Counsellor

Bula Vinaka and Welcome to the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (CMNHS) Regional Office.

As your Regional Counsellor, I have a DUTY OF CARE to provide professional assistance and guidance in resolving your personal or psychological problems.

We always uphold a strict Code of Practice regarding confidentiality and other moral standards. The Counseling Office’s main goal is to help faculty and students deal with short-term counseling related to personal and/or transition concerns that may be affecting their ability to make the most success possible in their studies and/or professional lives.

Counselling appointments are conducted via phone, or in-person depending on your needs. The counselling provided is short-term and solution focused. If further counselling and support is needed, our counsellors can discuss what services are available in the community and assist you to access these services.

Make an Appointment today! Or simply walk in to see your counsellor!

Mr Peni Drodrolagi Tove
Regional Counsellor
CMNHS Regional Office, Hoodless House, Brown Street, Suva
Email: peni.tove@fnu.ac.fj | Phone: 679 8602951

>> Services Provided

The College Regional, Counselling Office provides an approachable and professional counselling service to students and Staff.

• We provide free counselling, coaching and holistic health advice
• We run workshops on resilience building for success
• We facilitate mental health awareness and first aid program

COUNSELLING IS

• Confidential and private
• A voluntary process
• About helping you with challenges and/or choices
• About assisting you make informed decisions
• About making changes in yourself and your life
• About understanding and coping with strong feelings

COUNSELLOR WILL

• Listen to you carefully
• Accept you as you are
• Provide information
• Help you deal with your difficulties respecting your views and values
• Work with you to understand your counselling needs and wants
• Assist with problems that affect your academic/personal progress
• Offer assistance for as long as you think counselling is needed

COUNSELLOR WILL NOT

• Mix with you socially
• Discuss problems with you outside the Counselling Centre’s Environment

>>Counsellors Contacts

Varsha Naidu

University Counsellor | Nasinu Campus

Email: counsellor-vn@fnu.ac.fj | Mobile: 8960857

Kantha Mani

University Counsellor | Natabua Campus

Email: counsellor-km@fnu.ac.fj | Mobile: 8910854

Peni Tove

CMNHS Regional Counsellor | Hoodless House

Email: peni.tove@fnu.ac.fj | Mobile: 8602951

Ronika Deo

Associate Counsellor | Nasinu Campus

Email: ronika.deo@fnu.ac.fj | Mobile: 8960856

Mereoni Waqa

Associate Counsellor | Labasa Campus

Email: mereoni.waqa@fnu.ac.fj | Mobile: 2483172

>> Mental Health Fact Sheet

What is Mental Health?

• Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act
• Mental health also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices
• Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood

Healthy Minds

• Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behavior could be affected. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:

  1. Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry
  2. Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse
  3. Family history of mental health problems

Early Warning Signs

• Eating or sleeping too much or too little
• Pulling away from people and unusual activities
• Having low or no energy
• Feeling numb or like nothing matters
• Having unexplained aches and pains
• Feeling helpless or hopeless
• Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual
• Yelling or fighting with family and friends
• Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
• Having persistent thought and memories you cannot get out of your head
• Hearing voices or believing things that are not true
• Thinking of harming yourself or others
• Inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school

Mental Health and Positive Mental Health allows people to:

• Realize their full potential
• Cope with the stresses of life
• Work productively
• Make meaningful contributions to their communities

Ways to maintain positive mental health include::

• Getting professional help if you need it
• Connecting with others
• Staying positive
• Getting physically active
• Helping others
• Getting enough sleep
• Developing coping skills

>> How To Help a Friend?

Everyone goes through different ups and downs in their life and different people handle their challenges in different ways. Sometimes you might notice a friend is struggling with their mental health and want to help, but it can be hard to know how, or if, you should reach out to them.

When trying to help a friend, it is important to remember the limitations of your own knowledge. While it is perfectly normal for you to want to help your friend and offer advice, you are not a counsellor and shouldn’t feel like you need to be.

Recognizing the signs of a friend who might be struggling
There are many different signs of mental health concerns, including: a sudden disinterest in or absence from classes, patterns of perfectionism, deterioration in physical appearance, excessive fatigue noticeable self-harm marks, unusual inability to make eye contact, statements indicating distress or intent to self-harm, difficulty controlling emotions, sudden social withdrawal, and expressions of hopelessness

Ways to respond
If you are comfortable doing so, speaking directly to your friend and expressing your concern can often help someone take the first steps to getting help. If you are not comfortable approaching them, contact Counselling Services and ask for advice on how to deal with the situation. Keep the following things in mind if you choose to speak directly with someone you think is struggling:

• Meet in a private place where you won’t be interrupted
• Express your concern in a positive tone and point out specific behaviours that have caused you concern
• Ask how things are going for them
• Listen with empathy and without judgement and encourage them to elaborate
• Remember, opening up can be hard and emotional for both of you
• Avoid promising to keep their concerns a secret. If your friend expresses something that might mean there is a safety risk, you should always contact someone else who can help
• Make sure you let your friend know about the different options to get help

Accommodation

The residence areas of Fiji National University offer a unique experience in community living that extends the learning process of the University beyond the classroom. Students and staff work cooperatively to establish and maintain a living environment that supports the University’s mission, promotes student growth and respects all people as individuals. At Fiji National University, we strive to create a community in which everyone is included and encouraged to actively participate in the developing and changing nature of our campus. It is the hope of the Residence Life Staff that each resident will give and receive respect, support and encouragement to grow, change, learn and develop through their experiences living on campus.

Fiji National University won’t just be a place to study – it’ll be your new home for the next few years.  For many students, life in student accommodation provides some of their happiest memories.

>> Student Hostel Registration <<

For any suggestions, feedbacks or complains please contact the Helpdesk.

HELP DESK
Email: accommodationenquiries@fnu.ac.fj
PH: (679) 3381044 Ext: 2752, 0003
(Official Hours:8:00am and 5.00pm)

OR

EMERGENCIES
Manager Accommodation
Email: maco@fnu.ac.fj
PH: (679) 9920736

Immigration

STUDENT PERMIT

Student Permits are issued to foreigners authorizing a person to study at local Secondary, Tertiary, Vocational Institutions or Universities. This section gives you an overview of applying for a student permit.

Requirements for New Applications
1. Acceptance Letter from institution
2. Scholarship Letter (sponsored students)
3. Letter from sponsor, Copy of confirmed return air ticket/Bond, and Current Financial Statement (Self-sponsored)
4. Proof of qualifications and financial status
Requirements for Extension Application

1. Letter of acceptance from school institutions.
2. Scholarship letter (sponsored student).
3. Letter from sponsor, Copy of confirmed return air ticket/Bond, and Current Financial Statement (Self-sponsored)

All documents must be submitted as per Student Permit Documentary Requirements

More Information:
https://www.immigration.gov.fj/student-permit-application/