Advocacy for healthy physical and mental health continues to be emphasised through various activities organised by UTAR. As many of these activities engage the students and the community, it increases their awareness on the importance of having a healthy lifestyle. It also enables students and community to participate in physical activities that are beneficial to their health.

As also highlighted in one of UTAR’s pillars of education Physical and Mental Health, these activities are extra beneficial for students because it provides them a relaxing time to unwind and have fun through exercises. At the same time, the activities continue to promote the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between studying and playing, thereby educating them on ways to maintain a healthy physical and mental health.

Among the many popular activities, the annual 7km-run organised by the Department of Student Affairs (DSA) often attracts large participation from the students and the community. Held since 2011, the UTAR Kampar Campus Run 2019, organised on 11 June 2019, attracted 400 participations. Flagging off the 2019 run were UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, DSA Kampar Campus Officer-in-charge Steven Ngan Mun Fong and Organising Chairperson of UTAR Kampar Campus Run 2019 Mohammed Mahir Fairoz Rahman. Besides the two-hour run, the event also arranged a wide array of activities, namely mini-games, food fair and a captivating wish tree.

Speaking of students’ health and well-being Prof Choong said, “In one’s hectic routine, regardless of studying or working, their health and well-being is often overlooked, or worst, ignored. At UTAR, we want our students to know that taking care of their health is as important as excelling in their studies. They need to learn to make time for exercising. It is also beneficial for students to participate in extra-curricular activities. Keeping fit and staying active while focusing on their studies is indeed healthy for their physical, mental and emotional health.”

He added, “With much focus given on mental health these days, exercising is also known to improve students’ energy, mood, sleep, and it reduces anxiety, stress and depression. Exercise also improves brain function and protects one’s memory and thinking skills, thereby helping students to study better. So when students participate in these physical activities, they also learn its benefits and how it helps them with their health and studies.”

Indoor activities were also organised with the aim to promote the facilities of UTAR. For instance, the UTAR Fitness Workshop 2019 aimed to promote gym classes and fitness workout as a way for students, staff and the community to stay healthy. For first –timers, the fitness workshop was a good exposure for them to learn about the proper usage of gym equipment as well as to gain confidence when exercising among strangers. Ladies’ weekly workout sessions were also introduced.

Another effort to promote a healthy lifestyle among students was the UTAR Open Badminton Tournament, organised by UTAR Sports Club. While the tournament promoted badminton as a sports activity, it also aimed to cultivate interest towards badminton. The organiser uses the tournament as a platform to look for state or national badminton players to represent UTAR in future tournaments.

For those who preferred a lighter approach, motivational talks were also organised to promote healthy and positive living. One of the most recent workshops, titled “EQ Mindfulness” was organised on 29 February 2020. It aimed to educate participants on ways of practising mindfulness in their daily lives, in order to reduce anxiety. The invited speaker, Dr Yeoh Kar Kheng from Universiti Sains Malaysia, taught them on ways to increase happiness while developing a method to create a clear communication channel between the body and mind to maintain harmony and health. Participants at the workshop also mentioned that the workshop was insightful because they learnt ways to improve their well-being and memories. Other participants said that the workshop helped them understand better about themselves as they learn more about their own strengths and weaknesses.

Another impactful talk was the “The Impact of Depression and Anxiety on Quality of Life” by Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta Psychiatrist Dr Sharmini S. Arasalingam. The talk provided understanding on depression and anxiety, which was important because not many were able to recognise the signs of these illnesses. She also encouraged participants who were suffering from mental health issues to seek professional help. As the talk enlightened the participants with more knowledge, they also learnt ways, skills, and the type of attitude required to maintain their emotional and mental well-being.