Keeping it Healthy Mentally
 
 
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UCSI University students and staff from the Peer Counselling Group, Psychology Club and the Student Development and Counselling Unit rallied together recently to organise the University’s 2nd Annual Mental Health Week. The event was themed C.H.E.C.K. Your Mind, an acronym for Challenge, Hasten, Explore, Conquer and Knowledge. Launched on the 6th of October 2009, the event continued for two more days.

The opening ceremony for the Mental Health Week was officially inaugurated by the President of the Malaysian Mental Health Association (MMHA), Datin Dr. Ang Kim Ten, together with the Vice President of Student Affairs, Mr. Moses Ling, Ms. Ooi Pei Boon, Student Affairs Director and the Dean of the Faculty of Music, Social Science and Design, Dr. Irene Tan.

The event featured a variety of activities, exhibitions and workshops to educate the public about the importance of mental health.  The organising committee, headed by Chen Wei Yan, a  student from the School of  Psychology prepared many fun games and activities such as Titanic, Alcatraz, the Egg Splat game and card building games to stimulate and challenge the mind. The Malaysian Mental Health Association also set up a booth during the event which provided mental health screening, information sharing as well as consultation services for the public.

A variety of interesting workshops were also held during the Mental Health Week. The Hypnotherapy Workshop, Psychodrama Workshop and the Experiential Therapy learned through the OH Card Workshop were eye-openers for students as well as staff members who participated.

According to Datin Dr. Ang Kim Ten, people are traditionally embarrassed to talk about their mental illnesses. “There are many pressures faced by youths, such as bullying, emotional distress, addictions, peer pressure as well as study pressures, and there has been a widespread perception that people who suffer from anxiety, depression and those with suicidal tendencies are weak,” she says. She also goes on to say that mental illness is really rather common, with one in four women, and one in ten men, suffering from depression during their lifetimes. “And these people can be anyone in our society, whether they are successful professionals, or even well-known celebrities.

Mr. Moses Ling, UCSI University Vice President of Student Affairs, says that youths should not concentrate on their academics alone, but should also pay attention to their mental and social health as well. “I believe that this year’s Mental Health Week has served as an important platform to create awareness among staff and students on positive mental health and its importance.”

Note: Do check out our special issue of the Health Bites section by our School of Nursing lecturer, Mr. Arnel Banaga Saldago, which discusses the issue of depression and suicide.
     
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