Counselling Unit evolved into Centre for Healthy Minds and Wellbeing

Starting from 1 January 2023, the UTAR Counselling and Guidance Unit of the Department of Student Affairs of Sungai Long and Kampar Campuses was officially renamed the Centre for Healthy Minds and Wellbeing (CHMW).

The CHMW will now focus on offering a holistic approach to helping UTAR staff and students by enhancing and empowering its services with therapeutic methods. These methods will be executed through advent practices such as positive psychology and mindfulness, which will be administered via existing programmes and activities.

As a bedrock in becoming a holistic centre, CHMW strives to bring conscious awareness and mindfulness to promote healthy minds and well-being practices among UTAR staff and students. Furthermore, the Centre aims to enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of staff and students, improve their focus and concentration, build resilience to cope with day-to-day stresses, reduce levels of anxiety and depression, and cultivate kindness and compassion toward themselves and others.

Other than promoting mindfulness and presenting holistic methods to help UTAR staff and students deal with and adapt to their life challenges, CHMW will also continue to offer the existing services offered by the previous unit. The services range from providing information on academic pathways, personal development and career development to enhancing the personal and emotional well-being of UTAR students.

The transformation of this Centre was made possible not only by the passion of UTAR and its staff; but also, with the support of sponsors. UTAR is indeed grateful and thanks all sponsors for this thoughtful gesture.

UTAR DSA Sungai Long Campus Head Loh Nyuk Leung said, “As the transformation to CHMW takes effect this year, the Centre will be expanding its services. We will not only focus on existing ones such as individual counselling, consultation, training programmes, talks and workshops, but also on the new directive of spreading elements of mindfulness and positive psychology.”

She added, “With this new Centre, we hope we can prioritise unleashing staff and students’ inner creativity and ability to overcome challenges and equip everyone in UTAR with the courage to face various life challenges in the future.”

UTAR CHMW Sungai Long Team (from left): Tan Chin Yee, Ong Chia Shen, Navamani Nagappon and Ng Wan Fern with Loh (middle)

UTAR CHMW Kampar Team (from left): Gan Xin Xin, Gursheena Kaur, Chong Chee Wai, Leong Pyh Shin, Ong Sweet Lin and Chen Ke Xian with the UTAR DSA Kampar Campus Head Chiang Jeng Fong (middle)