Improving mental health through study tour

UTAR’s Peer Helper Programme organised a study tour to National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences (NTUNHS), Taiwan from 30 September 2018 to 7 October 2018. A total of 30 students and two staff from both Sungai Long and Kampar Campuses participated in this study tour.

The primary goal of the study trip was to allow participants to further understand and improve their mental health. The trip also enabled the participants to better understand the culture and lifestyle of the Taiwanese and it encouraged them to build lifelong experiences by interacting with foreign students and educators.

The trip witnessed various educational talks and activities such as “Death and Life Education”, “Suicide Prevention Education Training”, “Mindfulness Experience Workshop” and also “Expressive Arts Therapy Workshop”. The participants were also given the opportunity to explore the city of Taipei.

The students had the opportunity to interact with foreign students in NTUNHS which helped to broaden their knowledge and communication skills. Apart from that, the students also had a sharing session with their peers during the Lost and Grief workshop. The sharing session saw many individuals voicing out life issues and the session helped them to form a stronger bond with other participants.

Mindfulness Workshop encouraged individuals to de-stress. It also helped the participants to achieve a deeper understanding of one’s body and taught them to see the world from a different perspective. Arts Therapy and Grief Healing Card Workshop helped the participants to explore and identify their inner strength. Overall, the study tour gave the participants a fruitful experience.

Students departing to Taiwan

Students at the Healing Garden

The participants and trainer after the Mindfulness Workshop

Expressive Arts Therapy Workshop   

Grief and Healing Cards Workshop 

Peer Helper Study Tour participants with NTUNHS staff