Bringing in awareness on handling dysmenorrhea, sleeping quality and breast cancer

It was all about spreading awareness at the Awareness Campaign 2020, held at UTAR Sungai Long Campus on 21 and 22 January 2020.

Organised by the Counselling and Guidance Unit from the Department of Student Affairs, the annual campaign sought to increase awareness on issues related to the daily lives of students and young adults. This year’s event saw three talks focusing on the importance of sleep, managing dysmenorrhea and breast cancer awareness. Similar to the previous year’s campaign, a sharing session called Life Journey Café was also held.

Founder-cum-Managing Director of German Mentor (Eduroam Sdn Bhd) Dinese Yoong shared her expertise in exploiting self-hypnosis to manage dysmenorrhea, which is also known as painful periods or menstrual cramps. According to Dinese Yoong, dysmenorrhea usually occurs around the time when menstruation begins. Its symptoms typically last less than three days with the pain usually in the pelvis or lower abdomen.

“Hypnosis is a trance-like state of altered awareness, characterised by extreme suggestibility. Psychoanalysts use hypnosis to help patients to relax. It works as an alternative for people who are suffering from anxiety, panic attack and phobias,” said Dinese Yoong. Among the advantages of self-hypnosis are no medication is involved, provides instant relaxation and patient is in control of the hypnosis limit.

Dinese Yoong (left) assisting students to experience self-hypnosis

On the same day, a workshop, focusing on the art of sleeping, was conducted. The workshop was led by Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) lecturer Tarun Amalnerkar. At the workshop, students learnt about the importance and the impact of sleep in students’ lives. They were also introduced to techniques that can improve sleep quality.

Tarun (in black) conducting workshop on improving sleep quality

Another talk was held on the second day to increase the awareness of breast cancer. Statistically, one in eight women is diagnosed with breast cancer. While the cancer is known to take the lives of loved ones, the survival rate of breast cancer is as high as ninety-nine per cent if detected and treated early. In line with that, a talk by Breast Cancer Welfare Association Malaysia (BCWA) was held for the students. BCWA Matron Sharifah Salmah Syed Muhammad shared the risk of breast cancer, the importance of early detection and technique of breast examination.

Throughout the event, game and DIY craft stations, for students to enjoy and relax, were open to all.

Sharifah demonstrating the procedure for breast cancer precaution self-check while the audiences follow

Sharifah advised the audience not to be excessively concerned if they find lumps upon checking as ninety per cent of the lumps are not cancerous

A few of many games and DIY craft stations opened throughout the event