SEHAT 2023: Student advocates for mental health

Students and trainers

About 50 UTAR students participated in the Selangor Mental Health Programme (SEHAT) 2023 at Sungai Long Campus on 10 June 2023. SEHAT 2023 is a programme under the Selangor state government, coordinated with International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and UTAR Centre for Healthy Minds and Wellbeing. Under the programme, the students had the opportunity to participate in a training called “Healing hearts and restoring hope: Becoming a skilful helper” which aimed to support people with mental health issues.

The programme featured trainers Sr Nur Aini Alegrea Suner and Dr Pamilia Lourdunathan. Also present were Selangor Mental Health Programme (SEHAT) 2023 Coordinator Dr Muhammad Adil Zainal Abidin and Department of Student Affairs (Sungai Long Campus) Counsellor N. Navamani.

In the training, participants were taught the skills to identify verbal and non-verbal signs and symptoms among individuals living with crisis, how to speak with students who have been traumatised or have experienced an emergency event or disaster, and the way forward on referring the affected students to their relevant offices and centres including IHWC, PSU, counselling offices or psychiatric clinics. Apart from that, the students also had the chance to participate in activities which enabled them to learn about attending and empathy skills, the art of asking questions, observation skills, and reflection on feelings.

The Selangor Mental Health (SEHAT) Outreach Programme aims to equip participants with adequate understanding and skills to engage with cases and ways to respond to the students in need of help. The participants will be among tertiary level students across different universities in Selangor, consisting of student leaders and heads of any related clubs. Students will be able to respond to issues regarding students’ mental health welfare and facilitate the ways to solve the issues.

Students engaged in the activities

Fourth from left: Sr Nur Aini Alegrea Suner, Navamani, Dr Muhammad Adil and Dr Pamilia Lourdunathan with assistant trainers