KOLEJ DISTED-STAMFORD NEWS
30 JANUARY 2008

Managing people and stress

The first step in dealing effectively with stress is to mentally acknowledge it. 

“If we encounter emotional or psychological problems, we should not feel stigmatized or wallow in denial,” said Dr Prem Kumar Chandrasekaran, Penang Adventist Hospital neuro-behavioural physician. 

“Conscious acceptance of stress will encourage us to seek appropriate measures to better cope with the situation,” said the biological psychiatrist.  

DISTED students and staff at the CONNECT meeting to learn more about managing people and stress.

“It would be helpful too to maintain a positive thinking and perceive stress as a motivation to enhance performance and productivity,” said Dr Prem Kumar, an electroconvulsive therapy and psychopharmacology practitioner accredited by the British Royal College of Psychiatrists and the French Collegium Internationale Neuropsychopharmacologicum.

Dr Prem Kumar was speaking on “Dealing with Problem Employees and Stress” during a lunch meeting with Kolej Disted-Stamford students and staff on 30 January 2008. 

The talk was part of a series in the DISTED CONNECT programme which seeks to instill in students a keen sense of social responsibility amidst promoting a caring community culture. 

Penang Adventist Hospital neuro-behavioural physician Dr Prem Kumar Chandrasekaran speaking at DISTED.

“Stress, if experienced negatively, can lead to bad temperedness, anxiety and depression, increased smoking and alcohol intake,” said Dr Prem Kumar, a specialist in mood disorders, psychoses, dementia and other medically-induced illnesses. 

He pointed out that stress could also cause employees to be problematic as manifested in truancy, inefficiency, laziness and defiance. 

“In the workplace, issues that can stress workers include the boss, meeting deadlines, promotions, office jealousy and accountability,” said Dr Prem Kumar, who is also a well-known speaker and trainer in organic psychiatry. 

Hospitality management student Syed Tafazul Abbas (second from left) and his college mates listening to the talk by biological psychiatrist Dr Prem Kumar Chandrasekaran (standing).

Dr Prem Kumar then explained to the students and staff the processes in tackling problem staff from detecting related issues, handling the employees through interaction, motivation and initiatives, to finding solutions to their grievances yet upholding the interest of the company. 

The participants also obtained better insights on the various avenues to manage stress from the cognitive, spiritual, physical, social, psychological and medical perspectives. 

Dr Prem Kumar taught them deep breathing exercises and deep muscle relaxation drill to cope with anxiety and mental distress. 

Hospitality management student Syed Tafazul Abbas said: “The talk is helpful in teaching us to deal with people more confidently and boost our self-esteem in facing stress.” 

“The coping strategies that Dr Prem Kumar explained are also practicable in future when we are in actual working situations,” said the foreign student from Pakistan.

Penang Adventist Hospital neuro-behavioural physician Dr Prem Kumar Chandrasekaran (fifth from left) in a group shot with some DISTED students and staff including the college's vice-president Dr Koo Wee Kor (fourth from right) and lecturer Ahmad Taiff Isahak (left).