IYLC 2023 addresses mental health and community resilience

Front row, seated from left: Ms Loh, Ms Kim Teoh, YB Puan Michelle Ng, Prof Choong, Ms Fook and Ms Liu Dan with participants

Jointly organised by the IOI Properties Group Berhad, the Department of Soft Skills Competency (DSSC), the Department of Student Affairs (DSA), and the Division of Community and International Networking (DCInterNet) of UTAR, the International Young Leaders Conference 2023 was held at the Multipurpose Hall of UTAR Sungai Long Campus on 24 November 2023 and 25 November 2023. The event was fully sponsored by IOI Properties Group Berhad.

Bearing the theme ‘Mental Health & Community Resilience’, the conference this year aimed to provide a platform for participants to explore issues related to mental health and resilience as well as adaptation solutions towards crises. It also aimed to shed light on how higher learning institutions can play their role, with the participation of youth, in improving resilience against mental health in a social context. The hybrid conference saw the participation of around 120 participants, consisting of both local and international participants.

From left: Ms Liu Dan, Prof Choong, Ms Kim Teoh, YB Puan Michelle Ng, Ms Loh and Ms Fook at the opening ceremony of IYLC 2023

Present at the opening ceremony of the international conference were Selangor State Legislative Assembly Member YB Puan Michelle Ng Mei Sze, UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong representing UTAR President Ir Prof Dato’ Dr Ewe Hong Tat, IOI Properties Group Berhad Group Corporate Communication Senior Manager Ms Kim Teoh, DSA Head of Sungai Long Campus Ms Loh Nyuk Leung, DSSC Head of Sungai Long Campus Ms Fook Oi Yee, DCInterNet Senior Assistant Manager Ms Liu Dan representing DCInterNet Director Assoc Prof Dr Lai Soon Onn, speakers and participants.

Ms Kim Teoh delivering her opening remark

IOI Properties Group Berhad Corporate Communication Senior Manager Ms Kim Teoh mentioned in her opening remarks that she was delighted to be present at the International Young Leaders Conference 2023, covering the topic of ‘Mental Health & Community Resilience’. She began her speech by sharing a story about her friend who helped his loved one deal with a mental breakdown. She then moved on to explain the importance of being aware and understanding oneself, and the importance of caring for one’s mental health.

She advised, “Know what you want in life and have goals, but set realistic ones. In life, we must acknowledge our strengths and limitations, so we can manage our expectations. Keep your soul happy and contented; have a clear conscience and believe in yourself; be positive and do good for yourself and others; be kind and compassionate, and do volunteerism and charity work.” She added, “Life is too short to hold grudges, to continue getting upset over spilt milk, to get mad because someone overtook you on the road. Be a better person and help those who are in need. Helping a friend in need is a friend indeed.”

Prof Choong presenting the opening speech

Prof Choong, said in his opening speech, “This year’s conference serves as a crucial platform to delve into the realms of mental health and community resilience. The theme is not merely a choice but a call to action. The discussion on mental health and resilient communities holds greater significance than ever in a world grappling with challenges, uncertainties, and disruptions.”

He added, “This conference holds immense significance for students by providing a unique opportunity for them to broaden their horizons, gain insights from experts in the field, and actively engage in forums and workshops. The knowledge and experiences shared here will contribute to their academic journey and empower them to become catalysts for positive change in their communities.”

YB Puan Michelle Ng presenting her keynote address

A keynote address titled “Prioritising mental health & community resilience in times of uncertainty” was delivered by YB Puan Michelle Ng. In her address, she stated that mental health was considered a taboo subject in many households including hers as she was growing up. She mentioned that mental health was not yet a subject that formed the forefront of many conversations when she was first elected in 2018 as a state assembly member of Subang Jaya. Many refused to talk about mental health, thinking it was a weakness or a failure. “So there lies the stigma but the reality is— there is no health without mental health,” she said.

“The research done by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the year 2023 suggests that mental health among the younger generation is at all-time high. Globally, one in seven 10 to 19 years old experience some sort of disorder and this accounts for 13 per cent of the global burden of disease in this age group. Depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents; suicide, unfortunately, is the fourth leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds. And the consequence of failing to address adolescent mental health conditions would extend to adulthood, impairing both physical and mental health, limiting opportunities to living a fulfilling life,” YB Puan Michelle Ng stated.

She added, “This tells us that there is a lot of work for us to do. I always feel that there are opportunities in problems, hence I am glad that UTAR and IOI have taken this first step to raise awareness through this conference and talk about this matter.”

Among other matters that were addressed by YB Puan Michelle Ng included the abolishment of Section 309 of the Penal Code, which provides penalties for suicide attempts, in a move to decriminalise suicide in Malaysia; the amendment of the Mental Health Acts, which empowers crisis intervention officers to apprehend individuals with mental disorders posing a threat to themselves or others; the initiatives of the Government in addressing mental health; the efforts of the Government to streamline private and non-profit response to mental health issues nationwide; the development of SEHAT app, a mental health platform to assists people and offload the burden of the public healthcare so that the quality of their service is not compromised; current and future risks, involving climate change and climate anxiety.

Keynote forum (from left): Mr Tarun, Dr Avneet and Dr Lee

Following the keynote address, a keynote forum titled “Winning mind battles” took place. The speakers, Mr Tarun Amalnerkar and Assoc Prof Ts Dr Lee Poh Foong from UTAR, shared brilliant insights about sleep and deep breathing respectively. The forum was moderated by MK FMHS lecturer Dr Avneet Kaur.

Mr Tarun explaining how sleep deprivation impacts mental health

The first session by Mr Tarun was titled “Sleep and its impact on psychology”.  He started the session by defining mental health to which he stated that mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life; realise their abilities; learn well and work well, and contribute to their community. Among other topics he shared included the top five most common mental illnesses; the effects of lack of sleep on mental health; the determinants of mental health; case studies pertaining to sleep; the basics of normal sleep; the stages of sleep; characteristics of the five basic brain waves; benefits of good quality sleep; the consequences of sleep deprivation; the connection between sleep and mental health; the correlation between sleep and resistance training and breathing exercises to improve sleep.

“Poor quantity and quality sleep can affect your psychology and body physiology. It can make you hungry and angry easily,” Mr Tarun said light-heartedly as he concluded his session. He also said, “Quality sleep can make a difference to your mental health and so to your health and wellbeing.”

Dr Lee presenting a study titled “Brainwaves study on the effect of various short durations of deep breathing”

In the second session of the keynote forum, Dr Lee presented a study titled “Brainwaves study on the effect of various short durations of deep breathing”. She began her session by explaining why understanding the importance of breathing is crucial for one’s overall well-being and how it impacts one’s daily life. She also carried out a short practical session where the participants were asked to battle their thoughts while doing some deep breathing exercises. At the end of the practical session, she explained what is the recommended duration for optimal effectiveness in the breathing exercise and how deep breathing helps one to alter their brainwave pattern and improve their cognition.

The session also saw her explaining the importance of deep breathing, the proven benefits of deep breathing, her research study on deep breathing as well as the experiment design. Her research study employed a parallel group design which investigated the effects of three different deep breathing durations (5, 7, and 9 minutes and a control group with no deep breathing). Based on the results of her research, she concluded that the optimal practice duration for deep breathing was five minutes daily for seven days compared to seven and nine minutes.

Participants listening attentively

The forum also featured two workshop sessions on the first day. The first workshop titled “Emotional freedom techniques and calming with Yoga” was conducted by Dr Thavamalar Paramasivam and Ms Shamala Baskaran, both academics from the Department of Nursing, MK FMHS. The second workshop titled “How to support the bereaved through the challenging times” was conducted by Ms Lee Phei Wei, a counsellor from HELP University.

The forum on the second day began with an “Appreciation Talk”. It was followed by another talk titled “Harnessing the power of emotions for a happier life” by Ms Moisy Moi, a certified and accredited HRD Crop Trainer, and certified practitioner at The Golden Space Malaysia.

The third and fourth workshops were organised on the second day of the forum. The “Journaling Workshop” was conducted by MK FMHS academic from the Department of Physiotherapy, Puan Nadia Safirah binti Rusli. The workshop titled “How to build emotional resilience?” was conducted by Ms Low Mi Yen, clinical psychologist and vice-president of Malaysia Association for Mindfulness Practice & Research. The participants of the forum were also given a chance to participate in a lucky draw contest on the last day.

 

Workshop trainers (clockwise, from top left): Dr Thavamalar, Ms Shamala and Ms Lee

Workshop trainers (clockwise, from top left): Ms Moisy Moi, Puan Nadia and Ms Low

In conjunction with the conference, a study tour was also conducted to various places of attraction. The study tour took place from 26 November 2023 to 29 November 2023. Among the places visited were Kuala Lumpur City, King Palace, Batu Caves, Royal Selangor, Central Market, Dataran Merdeka, Masjid Jamek, KL Tower, Twin Tower, Chan She Shu Yuen Clan Ancestral Hall, Malaysia Tourism Centre (MatiC), Putrajaya, Dutch Square, A’Famosa Porta de Santiago, Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum, Jonker Street and Melaka River Cruise.

IYLC 2023 aimed to enhance dialogue and determine how multi-stakeholder’s idea sharing and crosscutting partnerships can be leveraged towards the implementation of SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequality) and 17 (Partnership for the Goals). Another goal of the conference was to harness the role of higher learning institutions in the implementation of SDG 13 and 10, especially community resilience in times of crisis.

The committee members, trainers, and participants of IYLC 2023